Gouda by Candlelight facts for kids

Gouda by Candlelight is a special Christmas event held every year in the town of Gouda, in the Netherlands. It's a magical evening filled with music, theater, and singing. The main celebration takes place in the big market square.

How Gouda by Candlelight Started

This wonderful tradition began in 1956. Back then, the market square in Gouda was decorated with a huge Christmas tree. This tree was lit up with real candles right in front of the old medieval town hall. It quickly became the oldest and largest 'Christmas lights evening' in the Netherlands.

A Gift from Norway

The Christmas tree used for the event is a special gift. It comes every year from Kongsberg, a town in Norway that is a "sister town" to Gouda. This tradition started because a deputy mayor from Gouda, Mr. Hagedorn, met a music group from Kongsberg. They talked about how beautiful the dark market square would look with a big, lit-up tree. Because the Kongsberg musicians felt so welcomed in Gouda, they decided to send a Christmas tree as a gift. They have sent one every year since!

The Journey of the Tree

The Norwegian Christmas tree is very tall, usually between 50 and 60 feet (about 17–20 meters) high. There's a special ceremony in Kongsberg where the tree is cut down. Officials from both Gouda and Kongsberg are there. After being cut, the tree goes on a long journey. It travels from Norway, through England, to Rotterdam Port. From there, a large truck brings it to Gouda. School children in Gouda welcome the tree when it arrives. Then, workers from a local company called Cyclus decorate the tree and get it ready for the festival.

The Magic of Thousands of Candles

Two years after the event first started, in 1958, the 'Gouda Kaarsenfabriek' (Gouda candle factory) celebrated its 100th birthday. This led to a new idea: not only light up the Christmas tree, but also all the windows of the medieval town hall and every house around the market square with candles!

Lighting Up the Square

Until 2012, Candlelight Evening usually happened on the second or third Tuesday in December. Around 7:30 PM, the Mayor of Gouda would light the Christmas tree. The mayor of Kongsberg, along with many people from Gouda and visitors from other countries, would watch. During the evening ceremony, all the streetlights and shop lights are turned off. The market square and nearby streets then glow with thousands of candles. These candles are given away for free by the main sponsor, Gouda Candles (Bolsius).

What Happens During the Event

Gouda by Candlelight usually starts around 2 PM. Over the years, the program has grown and changed. Volunteers organize the event, always looking for new ideas and inviting different music groups to perform. Since 2013, Gouda by Candlelight has taken place on Fridays. The 60th anniversary event was held on December 11, 2015.

Many Visitors Come to Gouda

Every year, about 20,000 people visit Gouda for this special weekend. The 50th event in 2005 attracted even more visitors, about 30,000 people from the Netherlands and other countries. Even the then-Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands attended that year!

Extended Christmas Fun

Gouda keeps its Christmas spirit alive for weeks after Gouda by Candlelight. There's a Candlelight Shopping evening on the Saturday following the main event. A few days later, an ice skating rink opens, adding more winter fun.

Being Eco-Friendly

To help the environment, Gouda by Candlelight became more sustainable in 2008. Since then, the Christmas tree has been decorated with 10,000 LED lights instead of older, less efficient bulbs. LED lights use much less power (800 watts) compared to old bulbs (5300 watts). After the Christmas season, the tree is taken down and recycled. An artist named Jan Mostert has even created several artworks from parts of the tree.