Family Christmas Market at Tierpark Nordhorn
Visitors can wander among illuminated paths and light displays while browsing stalls filled with handmade crafts, decorations, and gift items. Culinary offerings include regional treats such as sausages from the park's own Bentheim pigs, as well as campfire stick bread baking. Highlights include a living nativity scene with miniature donkeys and Ouessant sheep, beeswax candle rolling with beekeepers, and visits from holiday figures.
What to Expect
Zoo Christmas market featuring artisan stalls, festive lights, and a living nativity.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Tierpark Nordhorn
Food & Drink
The event’s food service features regional treats including bratwurst from the zoo’s own Bentheim pigs; visitors can bake stick bread over a campfire, and seasonal New Year’s cakes are available at Vechtehof on Nov. 29 and Dec. 6.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with children
Vibe
Festive, cozy, glowing
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
High
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: No separate admission is charged for the Christmas market. The page gives no ticket prices. Christmas-market tickets are available online and at the evening ticket office; annual and support-association cards are valid, and regular day tickets bought before 15:00 are also valid. – Get tickets
- Hours: Monday–Friday 16:00–20:00; Saturdays and Sundays 14:00–20:00. Christmas-market tickets are valid from 15:00; last admission is 19:00. From 17:00, side paths and the rear part of the zoo are closed.
- Parking: A free shuttle runs on weekends between Bahnhof Nordhorn (Haltestelle 5) and DelfiNOH and the zoo, in both directions.
Tips & Advice
- Order your Christmas zoo ticket in the online shop before you go, though tickets are also sold at the evening box office at the gate.
- Take the free weekend shuttle from Bahnhof Nordhorn stop 5 or DelfiNOH so you don't have to drive to the zoo.
- Head to the back of the zoo first, because the side paths and the area beyond the Löwenbrücke and kangaroos close once it gets dark.
- Register your kids in the online shop for gingerbread house building on November 28 or December 5, because a spot needs registration.
- Bring your annual pass or support-association card, which is valid at the market, as is a regular day ticket bought earlier that day.
Special Events & Promotions
- St. Nicholas visits the hall at the Bistro am Markt on November 29 and December 6, and the season's first New Year's cakes are served at the Vechtehof.
- Santa visits on December 13 with a big sack of small surprises for the children.
- Kids can build gingerbread houses on November 28 and December 5; register in the online shop.
- Kids can roll beeswax candles with the beekeepers on various market days in the hall next to the Bistro am Markt; dates to follow.
- Elves visit on various days of the market.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there for kids to do?
Children can build a gingerbread house on set days if they register in the online shop. They can roll beeswax candles with the beekeepers and bake stick bread over the campfire next to the village butchery.
What food is on offer?
The zoo runs its own catering and focuses on regional, quality food. The meat, including bratwurst from the Bunte Bentheimer pigs, comes straight from the zoo.
What can I buy at the stalls?
The huts are full of handmade crafts. You'll find decorations, sewn and knitted goods, and objects made with fire and light, for yourself or as gifts.
Can I visit the whole zoo during the market?
Not all evening. Once it gets dark, the side paths and the rear of the zoo beyond the Löwenbrücke and the kangaroos close.
What happens at the living nativity scene?
Miniature donkeys and Ouessant sheep make up the living nativity. You can light a wish candle there for a small contribution.
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Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.