There is plenty to do in Drenthe during the first week of the Christmas holidays. From atmospheric winter fairs to a traditional Christmas Eve service and from a rocking party to an active winter walk. Read this overview to see what there is to do this week.
It is inevitable: anyone who doesn’t like Christmas and still wants to go out will probably have a hard time this week. It’s Christmas, Christmas and more Christmas when it comes to activities
Illustrator Kees de Boer will visit the National Prison Museum on Monday, December 22. He is the artist behind the popular series Agent and Boef and takes children into the cheerful, sometimes a bit naughty universe of these two characters.
During this special reading moment, Kees shows how his illustrations are created and he brings the adventures of Agent and Boef to life with his voice and drawings. A fun and interactive activity for young story lovers! Online reservations are required!
The grounds around the Dwingelderveld visitor center on the Benderse in Ruinen will transform into a twinkling winter festival full of lights, activities and music between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. There is plenty to do for children. With a stamp card in hand, they go to nine fun activities.
They bake sandwiches over the fire, go sledding in the play area and string their own peanut garlands for the birds. And new this year are the storytellers who tell a story every hour that you don’t want to miss. There is also plenty to do for adults. Walk past atmospheric winter stalls, be surprised by the deep tones of midwinter horn blowers and there is live music by Bert Kling.
Stalls, workshops, a silent disco and Christmas bingo. The Rensenpark was completely transformed into a winter festival on Tuesday, December 23. The winter festival is free and lasts from 12 noon to 8 p.m.
If you would like to go outside with the children during the Christmas holidays, you may be in the right place on the children’s activity day at Buitencentrum Boomkroonpad. Here children, and who knows, their parents or grandparents, learn to make crafts with materials from nature under the guidance of creative volunteers.
A special Christmas afternoon has been organized for seniors in the De Componist community center. From 3 p.m., enthusiasts can sing well-known Christmas carols to their heart’s content, accompanied by piano, pan flute, guitar and double bass. There is also a small drink at the start. Admission is free, but a collection will be taken to cover expenses.
Dress warmly and join the ranger on an adventure. At Schaapskooi Achter ‘t Zaand in Lhee you can pop your own popcorn and make a winter treat for hungry birds. Winter bingo is also organized and children can ask all their questions to the ranger. The children’s afternoon lasts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Want to attend a traditional Christmas Eve celebration? There are several Christmas Eve services to visit in Drenthe. For example, you can visit the sheepfold in Hijken. The route to the sheepfold can be followed from Hijken by means of a light route. The service is led by Reverend Marco Bijdevaate from Beilen, and gospel choir The Voicemail from Veenheizen and the AMDG ensemble will perform there. The service starts at 9:30 PM.
Two Christmas Eve services are organized in theater De Tamboer. In an evening full of light, music and hope, traditional Christmas carols are performed with a modern twist, and the age-old Christmas message comes to life in a fresh way. There are two services: the first starts at 7:30 PM, the second at 10:00 PM. Admission is free.
Immerse yourself in the world of nativity scenes. A nativity scene exhibition opens on Christmas Day in the St. Willehadus Church in Emmercompascuum. Nativity scenes are shown in all shapes and sizes, ranging from old to new and made of wood, fabric and even tin. Each nativity scene tells its own story and shows how the Christmas story is depicted worldwide. Admission is free. The exhibition can be viewed daily from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM until January 4.