Dillenburger Winterzauber

The Oranienstadt during Advent

Dillenburg officially calls itself the Oranienstadt – the home town of Wilhelm von Oranien, founder of the Dutch royal dynasty. This historical connection shapes the cityscape around the Wilhelmsturm, Stadtkirche, and the central Wilhelmsplatz. During Advent, this very Wilhelmsplatz becomes a Christmas village – the Dillenburger Winterzauber.

Five Weeks of Christmas Magic

The Winterzauber 2026 opens on November 23rd at 5 PM with a festive opening and, based on experience, runs until shortly before New Year's Eve (in 2025, it ran until December 30th). During this period, Wilhelmsplatz is open daily (in previous years from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM) and becomes the meeting point for the entire Dill region.

Live Music on Weekends

A hallmark of the Winterzauber is the live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 PM to 8 PM. Local bands alternate on the small stage – rock and pop cover bands like X-CHORDS, Irish folk groups, acoustic duos, German rock formations, as well as performances by the ensemble of the Wilhelm-von-Oranien-Schule. The program will be published on the city's event calendar before the season.

Family Offerings

A nostalgic carousel is available for children – rides are free. There is also a large illuminated Christmas tree decoration as a photo spot, along with craft and hands-on activities. The weekly Advent Sundays are accompanied by prayers for peace at 6 PM.

Mulled Wine, Beer, and Regional Cuisine

The culinary offerings range from classic Christmas market specialties – mulled wine, children's punch, candied almonds, bratwurst – to regional beer varieties and winter specialties from Dillenburg's gastronomy. On Wednesdays, the market also regularly raffles prizes, including Christmas geese.