History and traditions of Gouda by Candlelight
Since 1956, Gouda has organized Candlelight Evening as a festive welcome to the tree that our Norwegian sister city, Kongsberg, annually donates to us.
This Candlelight Evening has since evolved into Gouda by Candlelight. A wonderful cultural event that, in addition to the festive lighting of the tree between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM, consists of various Christmas-themed activities throughout the city center from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Curious how it all began…?
The Tree Ceremony
For years, the tree ceremony has followed a more or less fixed pattern. At a quarter to seven, the electric lights in the Market Square are turned off, and the 1,500 candles behind the windows of the town hall are lit. Several fire guards are stationed in every room of the old town hall to protect the historic building.
The ceremony begins at 7:00 PM. The mayor of Gouda, Pieter Verhoeve, will read the Christmas story and deliver his Christmas speech. The role of the mayor of Kongsberg, Line Spiten (2023-present), has also been confirmed. She will bring greetings from the residents of Kongsberg and wish us all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in proper Dutch. These elements will be interspersed with musical performances. The highlight is the collective countdown. The mayors will begin the countdown. The audience will count along, and when the countdown reaches zero, the button will be pressed, and the lights on the tree will be turned on in three stages.
Tree facts
Every year since 1956 Gouda received a tree from Kongsberg. Selecting a tree is a delicate process; not every tree is suitable. It must be close to a path so the crane and low-loader can easily reach it. But if the tree was planted too close to other trees, it will have too few branches at the back. Usually, it comes from the forests around Kongsberg, but sometimes it comes from a Kongsberg garden and had to be felled anyway because it had outgrown the garden. The owners often consider it a great honor that the tree is given a second life in Gouda and is admired by tens of thousands of people.
Our Norwegian sister city Kongsberg
Gouda organizes Candlelight Evening (Kaarsjesavond) as a festive welcome to the tree, generously and annually gifted to us, by our Norwegian sister city, Kongsberg.
Where a special bond of friendship between two cities can lead to: an annual tradition of a Christmas tree traveling from Kongsberg, Norway to Gouda, year after year since 1956.
Since then, Candlelight Evening has evolved into Gouda by Candlelight. This wonderful cultural event, in addition to the festive lighting of the tree between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM, consists of various Christmas-themed activities throughout the city center from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Curious how it all began…?
