Gouda bij Kaarslicht 2024
On December 13, 2024, it was already the 69th edition of Gouda at Candlelight. The program started on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 2:30 PM with the opening concert. At the same time, programming started at various locations indoors and on the street in the city center of Gouda and on the Market.
The highlight of this day was the ceremony at 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.
Would you like to watch the ceremony again? Watch the TV West registration here.
In addition, there was also a lot of fun to experience at the other 23 locations from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM. The beautiful report from Gouwestad TV gives a nice picture of what the city center of Gouda looks like during Gouda by Candlelight?
Below are a number of photos that photographers have taken for us. If you would like to use a photo, please contact us.
📸 Astrid den Haan – ceremonie bij de boom 2024
📸 Astrid den Haan
De tree of 2024
Below is a carousel of the tree’s adventures. In mid-November it was felled in the forests around Kongsberg. He sailed to Rotterdam with the regular freight boat between Norway and the Netherlands. It was brought to the Market via the Nederhof grounds in Gouda on December 6.
At 12 noon at the Kleiwegbrug, the tree was enthusiastically awaited by the Celebration band of Gouda’s Harmonie de Pionier, the children’s college and visitors to the city center of Gouda. After which the tree will arrive at the Market at 12.15.
The tree was then unpacked. The shipping label was ceremonially handed over by Piet Streng to the mayor and the children’s mayor.
Piet Streng is responsible for the logistics of Gouda at Kaarslicht. And during his working life at the municipality of Gouda and Cyclus, he has always been responsible for De Boom.
This afternoon became even more special for Piet than it always has been, the mayor honored all his volunteer work (including ONA, the Old Cemetery, Bizon, May 4 and 5) with honorary citizenship of Gouda.
But Piet quickly had to continue with the order of the day; the tree was provided with a new peak. The previous peak had not survived the January storm. The tree was then placed in its place on the Market.
The rigging started on Monday December 9. It started a bit stormy, but on Wednesday afternoon he was ready for the important moment during Gouda by Candlelight.
And how beautiful it is! It can still be admired until January 7, 2025.
Opening concert Gouwe Bigband
This year again, Gouda opened at Candlelight with a free opening concert by the Gouwe Bigband in the Goudse Schouwburg.
Under the direction of Marijn Wigman, they played a diverse repertoire, from soul and jazz to Latin, Christmas songs and new pop hits in the theme of film music. Singer Stefanie Kenters once again sang the stars from heaven and what a beautiful dress she had chosen for this performance!
Below is a carousel with photos by Jan van den Berg and Sara Oosterlinck.
📸 Jan van den Berg
Ceremonie bij de boom
Big band Concordia played from 7:20 PM to 7:45 PM from the scaffold. That made the wait very pleasant for the visitors already waiting.
Traditionally, the highlight of Gouda started at 7 p.m. with Candlelight, the ceremony at the tree. Thousands of people were back on the market to experience this live. The buildings around the market were lit by thousands of candles and the public lighting was off.
The ceremony started with the recitation of “It’s just 1 tree” by city poet Chris Bellekom. The candles in the last window were lit by Mayor Tim Kurzbach of Solingen in memory of the attack on August 24.
New this year was a dance performance by Emma, after which Pieter Verhoeve gave his annual speech.
The ceremony was musically accompanied by ZA-EL Gospel with Elvis E, Leona Philippo and the children’s choir Ars Musica.
Also new was the junior city poet Brecht Boekraad. She dedicated her poem “We are different”
The new mayor Line Spitten of Kongsberg was in Gouda for the first time at Candlelight and after her speech she, together with Pieter Verhoeve and children’s mayor Bavly Shenouda, were allowed to press the button after which the lights in the tree turned on.
Below is a carousel with photos of Astrid den Haan, Jan van den Berg, Laila Bakker, Rob Radix and Aard-Jan Seppenwoold.
📸 Astrid den Haan
📸 Astrid den Haan
It was also pleasant in other places in the city center
Already for years, Gouda by Candlelight has been more than just the ceremony at the tree. At no fewer than 28 locations, 150 different performances and a total of around 1,000 people performing, there was plenty to do in the city center of Gouda from 2 p.m. until the early hours. New this year was Christmas in Keizerstraat and back in the Gouwekerk.
Below is an impression of various performances and locations during Gouda by Candlelight 2024.
The photos in the carousel are by Astrid den Haan, Jan van den Berg, Kim Reijers, Laila Bakker, Sara Oosterlinck and Rob Radix.
Photo Contest 2024
After last year’s success, we also organized the Gouda by Candlelight photo competition this year.
We have received many photos again. You can vote for the 10 most beautiful entries on our Facebook page.
In the carousel below you can see all ten. The photographers are Emmy van Vliet, Marcel Zenden, Saskia Langezaal, Petra Alblas, Selma Wiegman, Hjarald Agnes, Marla Vink, Sam van der Zanden, Mette Schouten and Patricia Vos.
Gemeente Gouda
Rabobank
Omroep West – 1
Stichting Jan, Bezemer – 1
