Gouda by Candlelight

In 2025 Friday, December 12, is the date we can all look forward to.

You can expect a beautiful cultural event that consists of various activities in the Christmas spirit throughout the city center from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The main event is the festive lighting of the lights in the tree between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM. The public lighting is off and the historic town hall, houses and shops around the market square are illuminated by thousands of Gouda candles.

Do you want to have an idea what to expect or you want to relive your last visit? Then view our impressions 2024 page.

Plan your visit
Every year many people come to Gouda by Candlelight. Do you only want to come on Friday or do you want to make it a weekend in Gouda?
Gouda has several hotels, numerous B&Bs, and just as many restaurants.

The city is easily reached by public transport. You can travel by train from anywhere in the Netherlands to the Gouda intercity station. You can walk from the station to the city center in a Christmas atmosphere in about 5 minutes.

Visit the Gouda tourist office (VVV) for more information.

De Boom is aan!

📸 Astrid den Haan

Area of the event locations

The map shows the different locations around the city center where performances will take place on December 13th.

🍴These locations feature a catering point.

  1. Goudse Schouwburg, Boelekade 67 🍴
  2. Stationshal
  3. Cheese Experience, Agnietenstraat 21 🍴
  4. Agnietenkapel, Nieuwemarkt 100
  5. Achter de Waag
  6. Waag, Markt 35
  7. Markt
  8. Chocoladefabriek, Klein Amerika🍴
  9. Hofje Raoul Wallenbergplantsoen
  10. Binnenplaats WSHS (voorheen Weeshuis), Spieringstraat 1🍴
  11. Hofje Willem Vroesenhuys
  12. Aloysiusschool, Spieringstraat 18
  13. Sociëteit Concordia, Westhaven 27🍴
  14. Oosthaven 15-16
  15. Gouda Studio’s, Oosthaven 12
  16. Blomatelier, Molenwerf 22
  17. Museum Gouda, Oosthaven 9 en Museumtuin, Achter de Kerk 14🍴
  18. De Firma – kunstcentrum Gouda, Achter de Kerk 13
  19. Sint-Janskerk, Achter de Kerk 2
  20. Podium Peperstraat🍴
  21. Visbanken, t.h.v. Hoge Gouwe 19 en 23
  22. Gouwekerk, Hoge Gouwe 41
  23. Kerst in de Keizerstraat
  24. Studio Gonz, Turfsingel 36
  25. Cultuurhuis Garenspinnerij, Turfsingel 34
  26. De Lichtwijzer, Hoge Gouwe 141
  27. Oud-Katholieke Kerk, Hoge Gouwe 107
  28. Joostkapel, Lage Gouwe 134
  29. Vrije Evangelische Gemeente, Turfmarkt 23

How it all began…

With a tree

Where a bond of friendship between two cities can lead, a tree comes from Kongsberg to Gouda since 1956.
It started in 1952 with the visit of the Kongsberg Byorkester to the International Festival for Wind Orchestras and Fanfares in the Goudse Veemarkthallen (now the Nieuwe Marktpassage).

In 1956, Gouda councilor Harry Hagendorn wrote a letter to the conductor of the Norwegian orchestra. He referred to the successful festival and asked whether Gouda could get a Christmas tree from Kongsberg. The conductor responded enthusiastically and conveyed the request to the councilor of Kongsberg. The Norwegian councilor, Mr Guttorm Friis, was immediately enthusiastic and selected a tree, which arrived in Gouda on December 12.
In return, the mayor and aldermen sent Gouda cheese, Gouda pipes and Gouda candles to Kongsberg.

And adding the candles

In 1958, the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Candle Factory was led to the first Candle Evening. On May 22, all windows of the town hall were lit with candles as part of the festive program.
A number of Gouda entrepreneurs like this so much that they decide to repeat it on the evening when the lights in the Christmas tree are lit. This is how Candle Eve was born.

All electric lights have been extinguished and candles are also burning behind most of the windows on the Market. 1,500 candles are needed to light the town hall windows alone.

Boom met adressering

Impressions of Gouda bij Kaarslicht 2023

Would you like to know what the Gouda city center looks like during Gouda by Candlelight? Spend some moments to enjoy last year’s Gouda by Candlelight December 15, 2023, the 68th edition already of Gouda by Candlelight.

 

TV West registration of the Tree ceremony
Registration of Gouwestad TV of the whole day including bringing in the tree on December 8th
Photo impression of the whole day, ceremonie and the bringing and decorating of the tree. (dutch page)

 

Burgemeester heet iedereen welkom voor de ceremnonie bij de boom

📸  Rob Radix – Mayor of Gouda Pieter Verhoeve welcomes everyone to the tree ceremony

Volgende edities

13 – 12 – 2024
12 – 12 – 2025
11 – 12 – 2026

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