Nieuwe Veste kicks off the Christmas season with a festive day full of music and creativity. Enjoy performances by the Nieuwe Veste Plus Orchestra, the West Brabant Youth String Orchestra, and various ensembles from Nieuwe Veste such as the saxophone ensemble and an orchestra of no less than fifty brass players.  

At the Stedelijk Museum, you can view the beautiful exhibition 'Willem - The Price of Freedom' about William of Orange during this period. Following this, the museum, in cooperation with Amnesty International, is running a Write for Rights campaign for people who are fighting for freedom in OUR time.   

Children can participate in a workshop 'Create your own seal' on 20 and 23 December and 2 and 10 January.

Light Treasure Hunt in the Grote Kerk

The Grote Kerk Breda offers various treasure hunts for children to discover the stories of the church. During the exhibition 'René - I'm still standing' there is also a light treasure hunt called 'The secret of René' along the artworks in the exhibition. 

Prince Willem's Treasure Hunt

500 years ago, Prince Willem hid a mysterious treasure somewhere in Breda. Search for the treasure during a challenging treasure hunt through the illuminated streets of Breda. Available for free from December 14 at the Explore Breda Store.

Gaze out over the atmospheric illuminated Breda during a ‘candlelight’ climb of the tower, after sunset. You will go up with a guide, who will tell you everything about the history of the church and the tower.
After no fewer than 287 steps, you are treated to a magical view! Be sure to reserve in advance.

At the Chassé Theatre, you can enjoy concerts and other performances that fully immerse you in the Christmas spirit. 

• 17 December: Musical Wintersprookje 
• 19 December: Cabaret artist Roué Verveer with A Very Funny Christmas
• 20 December: Musica Temprana and National Mixed Youth Choir
• 21 December: Cuban Christmas Concert by Aires Tropicales
• 21 December: Doornroosje The Musical
• 26 December: Christmas Show The Dutch Tenors: A December to remember

In 'Farewell to the Year' eight cabaret artists and theatre creators bid farewell to 2025 in a humorous, sometimes crude and physical way. Pieter Verelst, Sid van Oerle, collective Un, Dos, Stress (Marco Lopes, Thijs van de Meeberg and Remy Evers), De Gestampte Meisjes, Emily Salvia and the breakdance collective 155 provide a farewell ritual that you simply have to be part of to properly close the year. 

A cabaret show that is only available in Breda. Will you be there? Then bring something you're completely done with in 2025. Maybe an empty bottle (done with alcohol?), a spliff (done with smoking?), or something positive, like a doctor’s note stating that you are rid of something unpleasant.

Definitely take a stroll around the Grote Markt as well. During 'Breda straalt' it is particularly lively here. Skate a lap on the ice rink and warm up in the adjacent Wintertaverne, where you can sit down all day for lunch, dinner, or drinks. Besides the skating fun, a variety of events are also organized in the city.