Christmas Events for Kids in Arnhem (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read · Lees in het Nederlands

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Arnhem for 2026, and here is what he found: 5 family events. The magic runs from November 14 (Sinterklaas Arrival in Arnhem) through February 28, with The Sinterklaas Cellars (from November 18) and Burgers' Light (from November 27) along the way. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in the Netherlands.

What Rally found in Arnhem

  • 5 Christmas events for kids in Arnhem
  • Meet Santa: The Sinterklaas Cellars (De Sinterklaaskelders), from November 18
  • Parades: Sinterklaas Arrival in Arnhem (Sinterklaasintocht Arnhem), November 14
  • Also on the list: 2 Christmas light displays
  • Season: November 14 (Sinterklaas Arrival in Arnhem) to February 28 (Burgers' Light)

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Arnhem

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

Saint Nicholas visit

Sinterklaas Arrival in Arnhem (Sinterklaasintocht Arnhem)

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The city of Arnhem's events calendar lists the Sinterklaasintocht (Sinterklaas arrival) on Saturday, Nov 14, 2026. The celebration takes place on the Rijnkade and in the city center.

The start time, route and any road closures are not in the calendar. In 2025 the arrival began at 3 pm on the Rijnkade, but that is no guarantee for this year. So shortly before you leave, check with the organizers or the city for the current times.

Parent tip: Come well ahead of time with small children, because it can get busy around the Rijnkade and in the center.

Host
Gemeente Arnhem (City of Arnhem) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Rijnkade and city center, Arnhem (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Gemeente Arnhem (City of Arnhem) (opens in a new tab)

New events in Arnhem every week

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 4 more Arnhem events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Arnhem.
  • Exclusive access to free events Be first to hear about new free events in Arnhem.
  • Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
  • Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
  • One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.

Coming up on this page

  • 2 Lights
  • 2 Zoos and museums
  • 1 Santa
  • 1 Parades

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Saint Nicholas visit

The Sinterklaas Cellars (De Sinterklaaskelders)

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De Sinterklaaskelders is listed in Arnhem's 2026 events calendar for Nov 18 through Nov 29. The location is the Historische Kelders on the Oude Oeverstraat.

The calendar doesn't say what exactly you do there, the opening hours or the price. So look up the organizer before you go with children. The dates fall in the weeks around the arrival and before pakjesavond (the evening Sinterklaas brings gifts).

Parent tip: Check the organizer's website to see whether you need to reserve and which days it is open.

Host
Gemeente Arnhem (events calendar) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Historische Kelders (Historic Cellars), Oude Oeverstraat, Arnhem (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Gemeente Arnhem (events calendar) (opens in a new tab)

New events in Arnhem every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Arnhem every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas lights

Burgers' Light

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Burgers' Light is a new route with a story in 2026, in which a little firefly leads you past light, color, movement, music and projections. The walk is about 1.25 kilometers and takes around an hour and a half. You can go through with a wheelchair, mobility scooter or stroller.

The season runs from Nov 27, 2026 through Feb 28, 2027, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and on extra evenings during the Christmas and spring breaks. Entry with an evening ticket is from 5:30 pm and each evening has its own ticket. The route has bright flashing lights and loud sounds.

Parent tip: Tickets are limited, so book online in advance. Parking costs €10. If you or your child are sensitive to flashing light or loud sounds, take that into account beforehand.

Host
Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo (opens in a new tab)
Where
Burgers' Zoo, Antoon van Hooffplein 1, 6816 SH Arnhem (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo (opens in a new tab)

New events in Arnhem every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Arnhem every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas lights

Winter at the Open-Air Museum (Winter in het Openluchtmuseum)

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From Dec 5, 2026 through Jan 10, 2027, the museum is open daily in winter from 10 am to 5 pm, except on Dec 25 and Jan 1.

On the Entreeplein there is a Winter Fair with a carousel from 1890 and a chair swing ride from 1920. On the Zaanplein there is a fair with fortune tellers, craftspeople and food. Kids can do the Elf Steden Tocht, a treasure hunt with twelve stamp points.

Parent tip: Booking online saves €1 per ticket. An adult pays €20 on weekdays and €24 on weekends. Double-check the dates when you book.

Host
Nederlands Openluchtmuseum (opens in a new tab)
Where
Nederlands Openluchtmuseum (Dutch Open-Air Museum), Hoeferlaan 4, Arnhem (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Nederlands Openluchtmuseum (opens in a new tab)

New events in Arnhem every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Arnhem every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Family Christmas event

The Christmas Cellars (De Kerstkelders)

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De Kerstkelders is listed in the City of Arnhem's events calendar for Dec 10 through Dec 20, 2026. The location is the same as for the Sinterklaaskelders: the Historische Kelders on the Oude Oeverstraat.

The calendar gives no program, times or price. Whether it suits young children, you won't know until the organizer says more. Look up the current information before you go.

Parent tip: Ask whether reserving is necessary and whether there is a children's program.

Host
Gemeente Arnhem (events calendar) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Historische Kelders (Historic Cellars), Oude Oeverstraat, Arnhem (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Gemeente Arnhem (events calendar) (opens in a new tab)

New events in Arnhem every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Arnhem every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

More Christmas events for kids in the Netherlands

A story for the trip home

Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents. It is a cozy story to share on the way home after a big day out.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. Ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon.nl (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Arnhem: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Arnhem?

For 2026, we confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Arnhem, each on its host’s own page: Burgers' Light, Sinterklaas Arrival in Arnhem (Sinterklaasintocht Arnhem), The Sinterklaas Cellars (De Sinterklaaskelders) and 2 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Arnhem?

Where to see Santa: Sinterklaas Arrival in Arnhem (Sinterklaasintocht Arnhem) and The Sinterklaas Cellars (De Sinterklaaskelders). Check the listings above for times and booking.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 9, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Arnhem

Arnhem got its city rights in 1233, but the winter fun your kids will remember is much younger: an evening light trail at Burgers' Zoo and a winter fair at the Dutch Open Air Museum. Sinterklaas arrives on the Rijnkade on November 14, 2026.

How Arnhem celebrates, and what is different for visitors

Arnhem lies on the north bank of the Lower Rhine, and the Dutch Christmas season here starts with Sinterklaas in mid-November rather than with a big Christmas market. In 2025 the city's arrival parade began at 3:00 pm on Saturday, November 15, on the Rijnkade, and Sinterklaas then rode with his Pieten through the city toward the Eusebius church.

What makes Arnhem special for a visiting family is how much happens outside the center. Almost every village around the city held its own arrival party in 2025, and the winter attractions are two big, family-friendly places: Burgers' Zoo, which opened in Arnhem on July 23, 1924, and the Dutch Open Air Museum, founded on April 24, 1912.

Sinterklaas and the village parties around Arnhem

Sinterklaas is the Dutch Saint Nicholas, and in the Netherlands he arrives each November, traveling with his Pieten. In 2025 the villages around Arnhem each welcomed him on their own day. Elst received him at the station at 3:10 pm, in Rheden a parade left at noon for the harbor near the Meteoor, and in Driel he arrived by boat on Sunday, November 16, at the river Rhine.

On November 22 more neighborhoods followed, including Velp, Westervoort and De Steeg. In 2026 the Arnhem arrival is on Saturday, November 14, on the Rijnkade and in the center, and you should check your chosen village's own organizers for their times. After the arrival, the Historic Cellars in Arnhem host two series: the Sinterklaas cellars from November 18 to 29, 2026, and the Christmas cellars from December 10 to 20, 2026.

Planning a Christmas visit to Arnhem with kids

The season on this page stretches from mid-November well into the new year. It opens with the Sinterklaas arrival on November 14, followed by the Sinterklaas cellars and the Christmas cellars. Then come two ticketed winter outings: Burgers' Light, an evening light trail at the zoo from November 27, 2026 to February 28, 2027, and the winter season at the Open Air Museum from December 5, 2026 to January 10, 2027.

The page lists a handful of events, and most are paid, with free entry for the youngest children at the zoo and the museum. Book the zoo trail online ahead, since each evening has its own ticket. The city calendar also lists a large Christmas market in the center on December 13, 2026, though a children's program has not been confirmed.

A life-size mammoth and a carousel from 1890

Two fun facts for kids. In 2023 and 2024 Burgers' Zoo ran an Ice Age route with about nineteen species, including a woolly mammoth, led by an audio tour with a little arctic fox named Snowy. And at the Open Air Museum, the winter fair has a carousel from 1890 and a chair swing ride from 1920. In 2025 the museum welcomed 598,881 visitors.

Traditions today

  • The Sinterklaas arrival on the Rijnkade: Sinterklaas is expected in Arnhem on Saturday, November 14, 2026, on the Rijnkade and in the city center. The start time had not been announced yet; in 2025 it began at 3:00 pm.
  • Arrival parties in the villages: In 2025 Velp, Elst, Huissen, Rheden, Driel and other places around Arnhem each held their own arrival, on different days.
  • The light trail at Burgers' Zoo: Burgers' Light is an evening route of about 1.25 kilometers through the zoo, running from November 27, 2026 to February 28, 2027.
  • Winter Fair at the Open Air Museum: A carousel, a chair swing ride and a fair on the museum grounds, from December 5, 2026 to January 10, 2027.
  • The Eleven Towns Tour: A treasure hunt with twelve stamp points at the Open Air Museum that children can follow around the grounds.
  • Sinterklaas and Christmas cellars: Two series at the Historic Cellars: November 18 to 29 and December 10 to 20, 2026. Ask the organizer about program and prices.

A fact for kids

A carousel from the year 1890 spins at the Dutch Open Air Museum, and Arnhem's zoo once showed a life-size woolly mammoth.

Questions about Christmas in Arnhem

Is Arnhem worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes, if your family likes outdoor winter outings. Arnhem offers an evening light trail at Burgers' Zoo and a winter fair with a carousel from 1890 at the Dutch Open Air Museum, plus Sinterklaas events in November. Children from 0 to 3 get in free at both attractions.

When does Sinterklaas arrive in Arnhem in 2026?

The arrival is on Saturday, November 14, 2026, on the Rijnkade and in the city center. The start time was not yet announced. In 2025 it began at 3:00 pm.

What time did the Arnhem Sinterklaas arrival start in 2025?

It started at 3:00 pm on Saturday, November 15, 2025, on the Rijnkade. Sinterklaas then rode with his Pieten through the city toward the Eusebius church, where you needed a ticket to enter the church.

Do villages near Arnhem have their own Sinterklaas arrivals?

Yes. In 2025 places such as Huissen, Elst, Velp, Duiven, Westervoort, Driel, Rheden and De Steeg each held a celebration, between November 15 and 23. Dates and times differ by village, so check the local organizers for 2026.

Does Sinterklaas arrive by boat in Arnhem?

In Driel he arrived by boat on Sunday, November 16, 2025, around 2:00 pm, at the Sint Nicolaaspad by the weir on the Rhine. In Rheden the parade walked to the harbor near the Meteoor on November 15.

When is the Burgers' Light trail in 2026?

It runs from November 27, 2026 to February 28, 2027, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus extra evenings in the Christmas and spring holidays. Entry with an evening ticket starts at 5:30 pm, and each evening has its own ticket.

How much does the Burgers' Light trail cost for a family?

An evening ticket costs 16.50 euros online and 17.50 euros at the box office, and children aged 0 to 3 are free. Parking costs 10 euros. Tickets are limited, so book the evening you want in advance.

Is the light trail at the zoo good for little kids and strollers?

The route is about 1.25 kilometers and takes around an hour and a half. It is accessible for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers. There are bright flashing lights and loud sounds, so anyone sensitive to those should get advice before going.

What is the story of the 2026 zoo light trail?

A little firefly leads you along the route past light, color, movement, music and projections. The 2026 route is new, not a repeat of earlier years, and has a continuing story. Plan on about an hour and a half.

When is the winter season at the Dutch Open Air Museum?

It runs from December 5, 2026 to January 10, 2027, daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The museum is closed on December 25 and January 1. Double-check the date when you book.

How much is the Open Air Museum in winter for a family?

A child aged 4 to 12 pays 15 euros on weekdays and 17.50 euros on weekends and in holidays. Children from 0 to 3 are free. Adults pay 20 or 24 euros, and booking online saves 1 euro per ticket.

What can kids do at the Winter Fair in the Open Air Museum?

The entrance square has a carousel from 1890 and a chair swing ride from 1920. On another square there is a fair with craftspeople and food. Kids can also follow the Eleven Towns Tour, a treasure hunt with twelve stamp points.

How big is the Dutch Open Air Museum?

It covers about 44 hectares with around forty buildings, at Hoeferlaan 4 in Arnhem. It was founded on April 24, 1912 and opened in 1918 with six buildings. A museum tram line of 1,750 meters has run there since 1996.

What are the Sinterklaas cellars in Arnhem?

The Sinterklaas cellars run from November 18 to 29, 2026, in the Historic Cellars on Oude Oeverstraat. Ask the organizer for the program and prices.

When are the Christmas cellars in Arnhem?

The Christmas cellars take place from December 10 to 20, 2026, in the same Historic Cellars. Exact days, times, program and price are available from the organizer.

Is there a Christmas market in Arnhem in 2026?

The city calendar lists a large Christmas market in the center on December 13, 2026. Whether there is a children's program is not yet known. Check the organizers before you plan your day around it.

What can we do on Christmas Day with kids in Arnhem?

The Open Air Museum is closed on December 25. The zoo light trail excludes certain holidays, so check its ticket shop to see whether Christmas Day is included. Other days of the zoo trail are a good alternative.

Are Christmas events in Arnhem in English?

Most events are in the local language, and the sources do not say whether any are offered in English. A zoo light trail and a fair with rides do not depend on language. For the cellar programs, ask the organizer.

Are there free Christmas events in Arnhem?

The page lists no price for the Sinterklaas arrival parade. The zoo trail and the museum season are paid, though children from 0 to 3 are free at both. Check the host for any free options.

Since when has the zoo been in Arnhem?

Burgers' Zoo opened in Arnhem on July 23, 1924. Johan Burgers had started with a pheasant farm in 's-Heerenberg in 1913 before moving to Arnhem.

How old is the city of Arnhem?

Arnhem received city rights in 1233 from Otto II, Count of Guelders. In 1543 Charles V made it the seat of the Council of Guelders. It lies on the north bank of the Lower Rhine.

What was the Ice Age route at the zoo?

It ran from October 14, 2023 to February 25, 2024 and is over. It showed about nineteen Ice Age species, including a woolly mammoth, with an audio tour led by an arctic fox named Snowy. In holidays kids could dig for bone fragments.

Sources

  1. Arnhem, Encyclopaedia Britannica
  2. History of Burgers' Zoo, Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo
  3. Netherlands Open Air Museum, Wikipedia
  4. Evenementenkalender Arnhem 2026, Gemeente Arnhem
  5. Intocht Sinterklaas 2025 in en om Arnhem, Kidsproof Arnhem
  6. Burgers' Light, Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo
  7. Winter in het Openluchtmuseum, Nederlands Openluchtmuseum
  8. IJstijd & Zoo, Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo

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