Christmas wishes for in-laws USA families love to send at the holidays carry warmth, gratitude, and a little American cheer. Whether you are writing to your mother-in-law in Texas, your father-in-law in Ohio, or your brother-in-law and sister-in-law across the country, the right words can make the family dinner feel even closer. This list brings together heartfelt, funny, and short messages made for American homes, snowy mornings, and long drives home for Christmas. In-laws become family in the truest sense at Christmas. They welcome you to the table, share treasured recipes, cheer for the same football team, and help trim the tree. A thoughtful wish thanks them for that welcome and tells them how much their love means through the year. Use these 45 wishes in a card, a text, a holiday letter, or a toast at the table. Pick one that fits your family, add a personal line about a shared memory, and send it early so it arrives before the turkey is carved and the eggnog is poured. Last up...
15 Best Things to Do at Christmas in Gouda (2026)
Christmas in Gouda is quieter, warmer, and more candlelit than Christmas in the big Dutch cities, and that is exactly its charm. This small South Holland city offers a glowing market square, world-famous cheese shops, and a candlelight evening that has drawn visitors since 1956.
At the heart of the season stands Gouda bij Kaarslicht, or Gouda by Candlelight. On one December evening, the Markt's electric lights go off and thousands of candles glow around the square, beside a tree gifted each year by the Norwegian sister city of Kongsberg.
This guide goes beyond that famous night, with cheese tastings rooted in centuries of market heritage, the stained glass of Sint-Janskerk, canal walks, and relaxed day trips. Gouda is an easy train ride from Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Amsterdam, yet it feels local rather than touristy.
Last updated: November 4, 2026
Jump to: Gouda by Candlelight | Historic Heart | Taste Gouda | Festive Fun | Day Trips | FAQ | More Christmas Inspiration
1. Experience Gouda by Candlelight
Gouda bij Kaarslicht is why many visitors plan a December trip, so arrive early. 2026 dates and timings are provisional, and town hall renovation work may affect arrangements, so confirm details on the official Gouda event site before you travel.
1. Watch the Markt switch to candlelight. Stand on the Markt as electric lights go out and candles take over the square. The tree lighting is the emotional peak of the season.
2. Follow the choirs and street performances. Choirs, musicians, and street performers fill the old center with carols all afternoon and evening. Wander beyond the square: the best performances are often small and unplanned.
3. Learn the story of the Kongsberg tree. The tree tradition began in 1956, with the tree still gifted yearly by Kongsberg in Norway. That story turns a photo stop into friendship between two towns.
2. Explore the Historic Heart in Festive Light
Gouda is compact and walkable, and its center looks best in December, when canals reflect the lights.
4. Admire the Gothic town hall on the Markt. The freestanding 15th-century Stadhuis sits in the middle of the square and looks magical in candlelight. Circle it, then return after dark, when it glows against the winter sky.
5. Step inside Sint-Janskerk for the stained glass. At 123 meters, Sint-Janskerk is the Netherlands' longest church, and its 72 world-famous Goudse Glazen windows glow in low winter light. Visit in late afternoon for a concert if one is scheduled.
6. Walk the canals and hidden courtyards. Gouda has pretty canals, quiet hofjes, and narrow lanes that most day-trippers never see. A slow evening stroll after the crowds thin is the best way to enjoy them.
3. Taste Gouda at Christmas
Food is half the pleasure here, from aged cheese to waffles made while you watch. Come hungry.
7. Taste real Gouda cheese around the Markt. Gouda cheese has been traded here for centuries, and the shops around the square are the place to sample it properly. Try young, creamy Gouda beside aged, crystalline kinds before buying a wedge.
8. Visit the Cheese Museum in the Waag. The historic weigh house tells how cheese was weighed, traded, and taxed in old Gouda. It explains why this small city became a global name.
9. Join a stroopwafel workshop and eat one warm. Gouda is the birthplace of the stroopwafel, and nothing beats one pressed fresh and eaten warm, with its syrup center still soft. Find a workshop or stall where you can watch them being made.
4. Festive Fun for Families and Slow Travellers
Gouda at Christmas is gentle rather than frantic, ideal for families, couples, and slow travellers.
10. Browse the Christmas market stalls. Festive stalls around the center sell candles, crafts, ornaments, and local treats, including handmade Gouda candles that make perfect gifts. Go in the afternoon for a calmer browse.
11. Skate on the seasonal ice rink. A seasonal ice rink usually appears near the Markt in the weeks around the candlelight season. It is a lovely break between sights, especially for energetic children.
12. Warm up in a canalside cafe. Dutch winter days call for hot chocolate, spiced drinks, and a window seat. Pick a cafe overlooking a canal or the Markt and watch the lights come on.
Families
Children love the candlelight, ice rink, and warm stroopwafels, so plan one treat per stop.
Couples
Couples should pair a late-afternoon church visit with a cheese tasting and a candlelit canal walk.
Budget travellers
The candlelight evening, canal walks, and window shopping are free. Spend on one tasting and one warm treat.
5. Day Trips and a Relaxed Christmas Weekend
Gouda sits in central South Holland, so it works as a base or one stop on a wider Dutch trip. Trains beat driving in December.
13. Pair Gouda with Rotterdam in one day. Rotterdam, under 20 minutes away by train, offers bold modern architecture beside Gouda's medieval calm. Start in Rotterdam and finish in Gouda for candlelight and dinner.
14. Combine Gouda with Utrecht or The Hague. Utrecht, about 20 minutes by train, adds canals and cozy shopping streets, while The Hague adds royal history and seaside air. Either pairing makes a full Dutch Christmas weekend.
15. Stay overnight and see Gouda without the crowds. Most visitors leave after the candlelight evening, so staying overnight brings a quiet morning market and unhurried breakfast. Book early: rooms are limited and the candlelight weekend is busiest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in Gouda
When is Gouda by Candlelight in 2026? It traditionally falls on a Friday evening in mid-December, but 2026 dates are provisional amid town hall renovation work. Confirm details on the official Gouda event site before booking.
Is Gouda by Candlelight free? Yes, the outdoor candlelight evening and street performances are generally free. Some indoor concerts, tastings, and workshops may charge admission, so check ahead.
How do you say Merry Christmas in Dutch? Say Vrolijk Kerstfeest, which means Merry Christmas, or Prettige Kerstdagen for Happy Holidays. Kaarsjesavond means candlelight evening.
How long do you need in Gouda at Christmas? A full day covers the Markt, Sint-Janskerk, cheese tastings, and the candlelight evening. Stay overnight for a slower pace.
Is Gouda worth visiting at Christmas with kids? Yes, it is one of the gentlest Dutch Christmas destinations for families. The candlelight, ice rink, and stroopwafels suit children well without feeling overwhelming.
What is the best way to reach Gouda? Take the train: under 20 minutes from Rotterdam, about 20 minutes from Utrecht, and under an hour from Amsterdam. The station is a short, flat walk from the Markt.
More Christmas Inspiration
Planning a wider Dutch Christmas trip? These guides cover more festive cities in the Netherlands:
- 15 Best Things to Do at Christmas in Amsterdam (2026)
- 15 Best Things to Do at Christmas in Rotterdam (2026)
- 15 Best Things to Do at Christmas in Haarlem (2026)
- 15 Best Things to Do at Christmas in Delft (2026)
Vrolijk Kerstfeest from Gouda, and may your December be as warm as candlelight on the Markt.
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