🏮 St Martin's Day 2026
in Groningen

St Martin's Day (Sint-Maarten) is celebrated on November 11. In Groningen, lantern walks usually take place on the evening of November 10 or 11, depending on which day falls midweek. Schools and community groups often hold their own walks the week before. Our guide covers events from November 5 to November 13.

Children make paper lanterns at school or at workshops in the days before. On the night, they walk in a procession (often led by a costumed St Martin on horseback) through the neighbourhood, stopping at houses to sing the traditional Sint-Maarten/Martinstag songs in exchange for sweets, mandarins or a small treat. Most walks last 30–60 minutes and end with hot chocolate and Weckmänner (sweet bread figures).

Very much so — the procession route is short, well-lit by everyone's lanterns, and adults walk alongside. Most public walks in Groningen are organised by schools, churches or local volunteer groups and are explicitly aimed at preschool to primary-school children. Bring a backup torch in case the lantern's tea-light blows out, and dress warmly.

Most public events run a free or low-cost lantern-making workshop in the days before — check the listings above. You can also buy lantern kits at supermarkets, drugstores (HEMA, Action, dm) or stationery shops in the first week of November. For safety, modern lanterns use battery LED tea-lights instead of real candles.