Soest Christmas Market

Soest — Hanseatic City in Southern Westphalia

The Hanseatic City of Soest, with around 48,000 inhabitants in the Soest district, North Rhine-Westphalia, is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Westphalia. The almost completely preserved city wall, the dense network of Romanesque and Gothic churches (St. Patrokli, St. Maria zur Wiese, St. Petri), the green sandstone facades, and the half-timbered network of the old town make Soest the ideal stage for a Christmas market with a city-scape effect. The Soest Christmas Market consistently utilises this geography: no market stalls on just any city square, but stalls that blend into the historic cityscape.

Excellent European Christmas Market

In 2024, the Soest Christmas Market was awarded "Excellent European Christmas Market" by the European Excellent Christmas Market Association — a rare distinction held by only a small group of European markets, including the Dresden Striezelmarkt and the Vienna Christkindlmarkt. Awards are based on factors such as regional integration, culinary quality, cultural accompanying programme, and atmosphere. Soest was explicitly recognised for its combination of craftsmanship, tradition, and historic city backdrop.

Around 100 Stalls — Crafts and Delicacies

Approximately 100 stalls are spread across the old town, primarily around the market square, Brüderstraße, Petrikirchplatz, and Vreithof. The mix is classically Westphalian: regional artisans (wood carving, felt, ceramics, leather goods, jewellery), Advent decorations, small gift items, books from Soest publishers. Culinary offerings include Soester Bockbier, Grünkohl with Mettwurst, potato pancakes (Reibekuchen), Pottkieker (a traditional stew), roasted almonds, mulled wine (Glühwein), children's punch (Kinderpunsch), and mulled gin (Glühgin). A special treat: the Soester Pumpernickel Stollen.

Programme Highlights 2026

Several recurring events are spread throughout the weeks: The Christkind-Engel distributes sweets to children in the market square daily. Every evening, there is the Advent tower music — trumpet fanfares from the tower of St. Patrokli church. From the second weekend of Advent onwards, the large nativity scene exhibition in St. Patrokli is open — over 80 nativity scenes from around the world, one of the most significant collections in Westphalia. Ice stock sport is available for groups on a side square.

Open Sundays and Advent Saturdays

Local retailers open on Advent Saturdays with extended hours (10 am–6 pm) and on an open Sunday on December 6th, 2026, from 1 pm to 6 pm. This allows visitors to combine the market with a city stroll and Christmas gift shopping — a concept consistently promoted by the organiser, Wirtschaft & Marketing Soest GmbH (wms).

Soest in Advent — Worth a Tourist Trip

The Soest Christmas Market attracts visitors from all over western Westphalia, the Ruhr area, the Sauerland region, and even from the Netherlands. The combination of the historic old town, the distinctive green Soest sandstone (which characterises several Romanesque and Gothic churches), and its award as a top European market makes the Hanseatic city a tourist recommendation during Advent — peaceful, cultural, without the bustling atmosphere of the very large city markets.