The weekend before Christmas 2024, Dennis and I went to Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia for the Weihnachtsmarkt, the Christmas market. Germany is a master in Christmas markets. And a successful excursion to Bonn in 2023 left us wanting a sequel. On our way to Germany on Friday night, we learned about the 2024 Magdeburg Christmas Market car attack. That was all over the news. Would we notice anything different in Münster?
During Advent, Münster transforms into a winter wonderland, with the glow of the Prinzipalmarkt illuminated by Advent wreaths, the air filled with the scent of mulled wine and roasted almonds, and shops decorated for the season.
This marks the beginning of the most beautiful time of the year in the city, as several Christmas markets open their gates and fill the old town with festive charm. The markets, located just a short walk from each other, form a chain through the historic streets, inviting visitors to enjoy a cosy Christmas stroll.
The oldest and largest Christmas market in Münster is located around the Town Hall, in the square of the town hall courtyard. Set under a romantic sky of lights, the market offers a wide range of jewellery, handicrafts, and numerous culinary delights.
The St. Lamberti Light Market, situated in front of the imposing St. Lambert’s Church and surrounded by historic arcades, features stalls with blue pointed roofs and a 20-metre-high illuminated tree, adding a festive sparkle to the city centre each winter.
The Christmas Village at the Kiepenkerl monument offers a charming blend of tradition and indulgence, with rustic stands serving mulled wine, bratwurst, and other classic Christmas market fare. For more than 30 years, this market has been a highlight for visitors.
The Aegidii Christmas Market is particularly family-friendly, featuring a nativity scene and a six-metre-high, beautifully decorated wooden pyramid. Every half-hour, a festive Christmas tune is played to enhance the festive atmosphere.
The Giebelhüükesmarkt, located at the foot of the medieval wall of the Überwasserkirche, offers a unique view of the illuminated cathedral towers. This market focuses on craftsmanship and seasonal treats, adding to the city’s Christmas magic.
Until Christmas, not during or after
All of Münster’s Christmas markets open in November and run until Christmas. Unlike Christmas markets in Belgium, in Germany they stop just before Christmas. No ‘nonsense’ of continuing after New Year.
Visitors can enjoy meditative moments in the many churches, attend concerts and exhibitions in the city’s museums, or take part in Advent tours that provide insights into Münster’s history and traditions.
For those planning a visit, Münster Marketing offers detailed information about the location, timings, and highlights of each market, as well as maps to help with travel arrangements.
1: Christmas Market around the Town Hall
In German: Weihnachtsmarkt *Rund um das Rathaus*:
“The largest and oldest Christmas market in Münster welcomes visitors beneath a romantic canopy of lights in the inner courtyard of the Town Hall. There is something for all ages in the huge selection of jewellery and craft items, plenty of delicious delicacies and a nostalgic children’s merry-go-round.”
2: Aegidii Christmas Market
“Located on Aegidiimarkt plaza, the Christmas market, its stalls encircling a magnificent Christmas pyramid featuring a half-hourly carillon and a large crib, invites the whole family to stroll amongst handicrafts and mouth-watering delicacies.”
3: Lights Market St. Lamberti
In German: Lichtermarkt St. Lamberti.
“At the foot of the mighty St. Lamberti-Kirche, the little blue huts of the lights market create a special sparkle. Surrounded by magnificent gabled houses, the Christmas decorations and Münster’s largest Christmas tree compete in a bid to outshine one another.”
4: Giebelhüüskesmarkt
“The Christmas market opens its doors against the medieval backdrop of the Überwasserkirche and with a splendid view of the illuminated towers of St.-Paulus-Dom. A wide variety of craft items and and tasty treats can be found here.”
5: Christmas Village around Kiepenkerl
“In the little Christmas village around the statue of Münster’s Kiepenkerl, quaint stalls beneath a beautiful Christmas tree serve Westphalian specialities and display various handicrafts, inviting you to linger awhile and savour it all in the wonderfully cosy atmosphere.”
6: X-MS Christmas Market
“The Christmas market on Harsewinkelplatz right next to the Kirschensäule (Cherry Column) sculpture by Thomas Schütte is a market by Münster for Münster. The entire range from arts and crafts to gastronomic delights is local, regional, sustainable and creative. A real Münster market for everyone.”
This market is a bit further afield.
The six Christmas markets by day
We were in Münster on Saturday 21 December 2024. The Christmas markets opened at 11 AM and closed at 9 PM. That seems early and it is. But ten hours of operation is long. Being the Saturday before actual Christmas, it was obviously crowded.
The six markets have different vibes. They’re somewhat spread out in the city centre. Individually they’re quite small. Rund um das Rathaus and Aegidii are the largest and most ‘mainstream’ of the six. St. Lamberti is more artsy, Kieopenkerl more posh.
The six Christmas markets in the dark
A Christmas market is different in the dark. It’s what you expect from a Cgristmas market. The lights influence the ambiance.
It was again really crowded and raining. Yet we had dinner standing up, reckoning sit-down restaurants would be full. So we started with Flammlachs or flame-grilled salmon on a bun. Then we had Balkanwurst or Balkan sausage. Basically a Bratwurst with a ‘Balkan’ sauce. While Dennis followed up with some sweet roasted almonds, I had bowl of ‘carbonara’ potatoes. Potatoes, with hollandaise sauce, ham and cheese. Very tasty.
Did we notice something from the Magdeburg tragedy?
As I wrote in the intro, we were in Münster the day after the tragedy in Magdeburg. Radio and tv news outlets obviously covered that event. But on the streets of Münster there was security, which didn’t really felt like strengthened. There were several car-blocking measures.
Magdenburg 2024 isn’t the first time something similar happened. In 2016, a lorry deliberately drove into the Christmas market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin.
Münster 2024 seemed business as usual.
Comparing to Bonn
We couldn’t help ourselves comparing Advent in Münster with Advent in Bonn, in 2023. Although Münster gained marks when night came, I’d recommend Bonn over Münster. Somehow I found Bonn more cosy.
Also, Münster was full of Dutch tourists and vendors spoke (some) Dutch. Which undermines my longing of dépaysement. And Bonn as city outside the bubble of Advent has more to offer.
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