Gouda by Candlelight 2025
70 years of light, warmth and togetherness!
The 70th edition of Gouda by Candlelight took place on Friday, December 12, 2025. This anniversary year, once again, there was a full-day program for all ages
The afternoon began with the opening concert at the Goudse Schouwburg. The Candlelight World Ensemble, assembled especially for this edition, demonstrated that the world is at home in Gouda. Musicians from all corners of the globe played a unique mix of worldly Christmas carols and Christmas-themed music. The concert was presented by Sofie de Bruijn, who also performed herself, along with Boudewijn Zwart and Anan Alkamadi, among others.
Across the city, there was plenty to experience. From music and storytelling to theater and surprising encounters: rock, classical, musicals, the world’s smallest circus, and a walking Christmas theater were all on offer.
New this year were the Komijnsteeg, Kuiperstraat, the IJsselhuis at the Museumhaven, the historic Commissarishuys, the Theodorusstichting at the Westhaven, and the Christmas pop-up store Nieuwe Buren at the Kleiweg.
The highlight of the day, as always, was the ceremony at the tree in the Markt square. This year, it featured a unique blend of tradition and innovation to celebrate the 70th edition. Want to rewatch the ceremony? Watch the TV West recording here.The highlight of the day, as always, was the ceremony at the tree in the Markt square. This year, it featured a unique blend of tradition and innovation to celebrate the 70th edition. Want to rewatch the ceremony? Watch the TV West recording here.
OAt many of the 32 locations throughout the city, there was plenty of music, theater, and wonder to be enjoyed until late in the evening.
Gouwestad TV’s report beautifully captures what Gouda’s city center looked like during Gouda by Candlelight; you can watch it here.
Below this recap, you’ll find a selection of photos taken by our photographers. If you’d like to use a photo, please contact met us.
Want to relive even more? Also check out the recordings of Gouda by Candlelight 2024 en 2023.
📸 Astrid den Haan – Tree ceremony 2025
📸 Astrid den Haan – Childer’s Mayor, Mayor Verhoeve en chair Foundation Gouda bij Kaarslicht Paul Buis
📸 Jan van den Berg – The guys from the organisation Van Doorn, who decorate the treeevery year, in the middle Peter Ernst-voorman
The tree of 2025
Welcoming the Tree – 70 Years of Light from Kongsberg
For seventy years, Gouda has embarked on the same special journey by candlelight. This anniversary year, the Christmas tree once again came from its Norwegian sister city, Kongsberg. In mid-November, a tree was selected in the woods surrounding the city to be felled because it was diseased or had grown too large. This gave the tree a second life, right in the heart of Gouda.Kongsberg.
The 21-meter-tall spruce made its journey to the Netherlands by sea, arriving at the port of Rotterdam. From there, it was transported to Gouda, where a special moment followed on : for the 70th time, the Christmas tree was installed in the Markt square, right in front of the City Hall
For the seventh consecutive year, contractor Van Doorn has been responsible for installing and decorating the tree. An intensive job completed in just three days, often under time pressure and in wintery conditions. This year, the weather cooperated. With the utmost precision, the tree was safely placed upright and then decorated with approximately 15,000 lights and 800 Christmas baubles.
The occasion was made even more festive. While the “tree men” were working, they were treated to a musical flash mob and oliebollen (Dutch doughnuts). The Celebration Band of Harmonie De Pionier, the Ukrainian choir Choir Mriya, and children from BSO Bibelebonz provided a warm welcome. Mayor Pieter Verhoeve and children’s mayor Tommie Blauwendraat expressed their gratitude to everyone involved in the tree’s development: from selecting and felling it in Norway to transporting it, placing it, and decorating it in the Market Square. Poet Sara Bouwers recited a special poem about the Gouda tree. See the Gouwestad TV report here
After placing it, the decorations began. Branch by branch, the tree was decorated until, a few days later, it was fully prepared for the highlight of Gouda by Candlelight: the ceremony where the lights are officially switched on.
And so it stands there again. Radiant, connecting, and familiar. The Gouda Christmas tree can be admired in the Market Square until mid-January as a symbol of 70 years of light, warmth and togetherness.
📸 Jan van den Berg
📸 Astrid den Haan
Opening concert Candlelight World ensemble
Gouda by Candlelight 2025 kicked off with a special opening concert at the Goudse Schouwburg. This year, the concert was once again free to attend and marked the musical opening at 2:30 PM.
The Candlelight World Ensemble was assembled especially for this 70th edition: a unique group of musicians from various parts of the world, brought together in Gouda. Together they performed a mix of worldly Christmas carols and music in the spirit of Christmas. The concert demonstrated that Gouda is the home of the world.
The ensemble featured a mix of emerging talent and familiar faces. Boudewijn Zwart played the piano and carillon, Anan Alkadamani brought sounds from Syria with his violin, Ilein Bermudez from Venezuela sang and played the cello, and Draymell Diaz from Costa Rica played the oboe. Bram de Regt from Gouda completed the ensemble on trumpet.
The presentation was hosted by Sofie de Bruijn, who not only guided the audience through the program but also played the piano and sang. Between the music, she asked the musicians to share personal stories about their fondest Christmas memories.
The opening concert was a musical and international kickoff for Gouda by Candlelight 2025 and immediately set the tone for a day full of light, encounters, and togetherness.
📸 Rob Radix
📸 Rob Radix
📸 Jan van den Berg
Tree Ceremony
The absolute highlight of Gouda by Candlelight 2025 was once again this year’s ceremony at the tree in the Market Square. For the 70th time, thousands of visitors gathered to experience this special moment together. The streetlights were dimmed, and hundreds of candles illuminated the historic buildings surrounding the Market Square.
The ceremony began at 7:00 PM with a varied program that combined tradition and innovation. Bas Ragas and Anne-Wil Blankers were the headliners. Anne-Wil Blankers read from “De Goudse Kaarsjes” (The Gouda Candles), the golden booklet written and illustrated by Harmen van Straaten especially for the 60th edition of Gouda by Candlelight. The booklet is available at Heb ik Via in the Groenendaal.
Of course, Mayor Pieter Verhoeve also delivered the traditional Christmas speech. There were also contributions from city poets Chris Bellekom and Timo van Gastel, children’s mayor Tommie Blauwendraat, and Line Spiten, mayor of our sister city Kongsberg. Their words underscored this year’s theme: “70 years of light, warmth, and togetherness.”
Around 7:40 PM, the countdown began to the magical moment when the tree’s lights were switched on. Amidst loud applause, the Market Square once again became the radiant heart of the city.
Below are carousels with photos by Laila Bakker and Sara Oosterlinck.
📸 Sara Oosterlinck
📸 Laila Bakker
📸 Sara Oosterlinck
📸 Astrid den Haan
Also other locations were also very lively
For years, Gouda by Candlelight has been more than just the ceremony at the tree. At no fewer than 32 locations, 150 different performances, and a total of around 1,000 performers, there was plenty to do in Gouda’s city center from 2:00 PM until the wee hours.
Below is a glimpse of various performances and locations during Gouda by Candlelight 2025.
The photos in the carousel are by Astrid den Haan, Jan van den Berg, Laila Bakker, Rob Radix, and Sara Oosterlinck.
📸 Astrid den Haan
📸 Jan van den Berg
📸 Laila Bakker
📸 Rob Radix
📸 Sara Oosterlinck
Foto Contest 2025
Following the success of previous years, we’ve organized the Gouda by Candlelight photo contest again this year.
We received many photos again. Voting for the 10 most beautiful entries took place on our Facebook page.
This year’s winners: Anneke Streefkerk and Petra Dierckx. They will win a VIP spot at next year’s ceremony by the tree, allowing them to capture the event even better.
📸 Anneke Streefkerk
📸 Petra Dierckx