Christmas Market Dates25th November – 29th December 2019 Old Town Christmas Market Crown Estate Christmas Market Bohemian Christmas Market Dutch Christmas Market “Sinterklaas” Polish Christmas Market "Sternenmarkt" |
Welcome to the Potsdam Christmas Market
From the shining blue lights of the Old Town Christmas Market “Blauer Lichterglanz”, take a stroll through Sanssouci Park to reach the Romantic Market at the Crown Estate near Sanssouci. Other charming Christmas markets in Potsdam are the Bohemian Christmas Market in Babelsberg, the Polish Market “Sternenmarkt” at Neuer Markt, and the Dutch Market “Sinterklaas” in the Dutch Quarter.
More Details on the markets:
The Bohemian Christmas Market is a traditional Christmas market located next to Friedrich Church in the Bohemian Weavers' Quarter in Babelsberg, Potsdam. Visitors and vendors dress in medieval clothes. The craftsmen and weavers offer handcrafted goods (e. g. shoes) and food such as "Maultaschen" (stuffed pasta filled with mushrooms or meat). There are various stands offering food such as pancakes, traditional Bohemian bread wraps or sausages and Christmas sweets (cookies etc.). On Saturday an original Czech chamber choir performs the Bohemian Shepherd Mass by Jakob Jan Ryba, a famous traditional christmas concert. Other events include fairytale performances and baking lessons for children.
The Polish Christmas Market (Sternenmarkt) celebrates Polish traditions in the historical "Kutschstallhof", the former horse stables of Prussian kings, next to the new market square "Neuer Markt" in the historical city center of Potsdam. Polish artists and craftsmen offer woodcarvings, textile patchworks, silver and ambor jewlery, tablecloths, wall hangings, ceramcis, self-made table and wall clocks, stone and salt art and leather goods. Traditional Polish foods are offered such as sheep cheese products, honey, „krowki (popular Polish sweets) and „pierogi (pirogis), „barszcz and „bigos". They are part of the 12 symbolic dishes of the Polish dinner table at Christmas Eve. Events include choir and classical music performances, many events for children with clowns, games and singing, and a display of the traditional Polish "szopka"
(crèche).
The Dutch Christmas Market (Sinterklaas) is located in the historical Dutch Quarter. The Dutch Santa Clause "Sinterklaas", dressed in the traditional Dutch bishop garment, enters Potsdam with his helpers, the "Zwarter Pieten" by ship and rides through the city on horseback. Reaching the Dutch Quarter, there are vendors selling Dutch specialities and musicians playing Dutch Christmas music. The celebrations include theatre performances for children on a small fairytale stage.
The three international European Christmas markets are an established part of Potsdam's history as a tolerant and open-minded city. Visitors enjoy the authentic and impressive architecture of the city, dating back to the 18th century. With the Romantic Christmas Market at the Crown Estate next to the famous Sanssouci Park and Castle and the Old Town Christmas Market "Blauer Lichterglanz" in the baroque city center, Potsdam is the ideal place to spend a magical Christmas holiday in Germany.