Friends know how much I love Pella, Iowa. This charming town has been a favorite getaway for our family for years. We enjoy the strong Dutch heritage, the Vermeer windmill, and the delightful bakeries tempting us with homemade treats. And let's not forget the wonderful Dutch Christmas celebrations.
One of the most special events in Pella is the Kerstmarkt, a Dutch Christmas Market held on the first weekend of December. It's a time when guests can immerse themselves in the European-inspired Christmas market and join the city's cherished Christmas Tour of Homes. This is a charming small-town "Hallmark Christmas" experience we love.
Christmas in Pella, Iowa
This is our Guide to Celebrate Christmas in Pella, Iowa featuring Kerstmarkt, a Dutch Christmas Market, Sinterklaas, delicious foods, and fun traditions.
Tour Vermeer Mill & the Historic Village: Pella's Windmill
Vermeer Mill is an 1850s-style Dutch grain mill in Pella's historic village since 2002. Visitors are invited to tour the five-story mill and learn how grain is ground into flour. You may even purchase a souvenir bag of flour in the gift shop. Guides teach visitors about the process, you learn about the various types of wood used to build the windmill and why each wood was selected, and children try to lift flour bags. A highlight is standing on the windmill deck where you can see the town below, Pella's canal, and shops. Admission to the windmill also includes admission to the miniature Dutch Village display (note the miniature Sinterklaas) and the historic village which includes Wyatt Earp's home, a blacksmith, a grist mill where corn is ground into cornmeal, a bakery, and a wooden shoemaker's shop. My girls love the Goliath street organ, the pastries served at the Bakkerii and the decorations.
Experience Kerstmarkt.
The Kerstmarkt, Pella's annual Christmas festival is held the first weekend of December with an outdoor European Christmas market for shopping, wassail, sleigh rides, and the chance to meet Sinterklaas (Santa of the Netherlands). Artisans sell homemade ornaments, decorations, jewelry, candy, honey, and kettle corn. Hot wassail, cocoa, and pastries are holiday favorites.
Horse-drawn wagon rides, the Sinterklaas parade, and the outdoor ice skating rink add to the fun.
Enjoy Dutch pastries from Jaarsma Bakery.
Jaarsma Bakery is an Iowa landmark offering Dutch ambiance and goodness! Their Dutch letters, an S-shaped pastry filled with specialty almond filling, are a must-try. The S represents Sinterklaas, but the bakery makes the treats year-round. Their puff pillows are my personal favorites, but the apple ring, goat legs, and cream horns are amazing as well. During festivals, the lines to shop at Jaarsma's wrap around the block. If possible, arrive early or shop during a parade.
Shop for meat and cheese at In't Veld's Meat Market and Ulrich Meat Market.
Buy traditional bologna, gouda cheese, and other delicious items at In't Veld's. Their bologna is made in-house, and they host live music on the rooftop during weekends.
Watch the Klokkenspel.
The iconic attraction in Pella showcases eight mechanical figures standing at 4 feet tall, depicting scenes from the town's history while music plays. You can first catch a glimpse of the Klokkenspel from Franklin Street before heading to the courtyard behind. Daily performances take place at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 9:00 pm. The courtyard, adorned with stunning Dutch murals, provides access to the canal.
Discover more tips and a calendar of events at Visit Pella.
More Hidden Gems in Pella Most Tourists Miss
Scholte House: The Scholte House Museum is a charming home built back in 1848 by Pella's founder, Hendrik Scholte, for his wife, Maria. The house is filled with their personal belongings, giving you a real sense of their life and times. The gardens behind the house are absolutely beautiful and free to explore. If you're up for a treat, you can even enjoy a Dutch coffee time at Maria's Tea Room (reservations required).
Sunken Garden Park located at the 1100 Block of Main Street, gets its name from its central feature, a sunken pond shaped like a wooden shoe. During winter, many people enjoy ice skating.
Vermeer Corporation offers free self-guided tours (2110 E Vermeer Rd.). Explore the museum to discover the origins of innovation, the impact of our equipment on the world, and the teams responsible for this significant work.
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