Dickens Festijn Deventer 2025 | World’s Largest Charles Dickens Festival in Deventer, Netherlands 2025 | Walking Route Map, Practical Information, Tips and Tricks
Welcome to the World’s Largest Dickens Festijn (Festival) at Deventer!
Before we begin our story today, let me ask you a “Did you know?” question. Did you know that the world’s largest Charles Dickens Festival takes place in the Netherlands, and not the UK? And that too it is just a fan festival without having any documented historical connection to the author? If you didn’t, then this article is for you!
Every year the week before Christmas, the historic center of the Hanseatic League city of Deventer in the Netherlands transforms into a magical Victorian-era English world of Charles Dickens where more than 950 characters from the pages of his famous books spring to life amidst a backdrop of exquisitely restored 19th-century buildings decorated with house-sized Christmas trees and thousands of lights!
Bagpipers parade as Queen Victoria passes in her sedan chair, shepherds walk their sheep through town, sweepers broom the streets, police drag the bandits to jail, gentlemen on towering bicycles bike their way through the winding streets, Christmas Carol singers visit door-to-door, craftsmen display their skills, spinsters spin wool, drunkards sway, tramps beg, shopkeepers sell merchandise, and the aroma of roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, and cider punch fills the air. Every year over 125,000 visitors come to Deventer to witness this spectacle. This year, Deventer is all set to celebrate its 33rd edition! Today, I’m going to take you along with me on this enchanting Dickens Festival walk across the historic town center of Deventer. Let the journey begin!
Who was Charles Dickens and why is he so famous?
The English author Charles Dickens (1812 to 1870) is regarded as one of the greatest novelists in history. He rose to fame with books like ‘A Christmas Carol,’ ‘David Copperfield,’ ‘Oliver Twist,’ and ‘Great Expectations.’ With over 200 million copies sold, Dickens' A ‘Tale of Two Cities’ is currently the seventh best-selling book worldwide. His writing was well-liked by both the simple and the sophisticated from his lifetime up to today. Charles Dickens was not only a writer but also a theater enthusiast who created plays and acted on stage, including one for Queen Victoria in 1851.
Charles Dickens based many of his characters on real people and their lives. As a result, people could better self-identify with his stories and perceive what Britain was like at that time. His works were enhanced by the emotion, empathy, and intellect of his perspective on society and its flaws, which established him as one of the major literary figures of the 19th century.
Dickens’ literary works are characterized by his cartoonish narrative style, subtle humor, and attention to the negative repercussions of the Industrial Revolution (such as worker poverty and societal issues) much of which he faced himself during his early childhood. The Victorian era named after Queen Victoria (who also attends the Dickens Festival by the way), is marked by extreme social contrasts, both extreme poverty and extreme luxury. You will meet many of the main and supporting characters from Dicken’s novels written during the Victorian era at the Dickens Festival.
Charles Dickens Bibliography
Charles Dickens’ bibliography includes more than a dozen major novels, several short stories (including ghost stories and stories with Christmas themes), plays, non-fiction books, and individual essays and articles. Before being reproduced in conventional book formats, Dickens' novels were first serialized in weekly or monthly magazines. The most famous of his literary works are mentioned below -
Sketches by Boz (1836)
The Pickwick Papers (1837)
Oliver Twist (1838)
Nicholas Nickleby (1839)
The Old Curiosity Shop (1841)
Barnaby Rudge (1841)
American Notes (1842)
A Christmas Carol (1843)
Martin Chuzzlewit (1844)
The Chimes (1844)
The Cricket on the Hearth (1845)
The Battle of Life (1846)
Haunted Man and Ghost’s Bargain (1848)
Dombey and Son (1848)
David Copperfield (1850)
A Child's History of England (1851-1853)
Bleak House (1853)
Hard Times (1854)
Little Dorrit (1857)
A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
Great Expectations (1861)
Our Mutual Friend (1865)
No Thoroughfare (1867)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (unfinished, 1870)
How did the Dickens Festival at Deventer start?
In 1991, when Emmy Strik, a local shopkeeper owning a herbs and tea shop on one of the winding lanes in the heart of Deventer, was lying on her bed at night, pondering upon how to brighten up her boring, grey, and gloomy shopping Sunday during Advent, an idea struck her - It had to be a Dickens in Christmas. That would lift everyone's spirits. Emmy was deeply influenced by her father’s love for Dickens who frequented the UK. Since the municipality of Deventer initially did not find the idea appealing, she and her husband, Jan Strik, opted to set it up in their own Walstraat.
The first edition in 1991 was very small-scale. Emmy and Jan decorated everything themselves and drove through the street in just two carriages. From there as the festival snowballed into a larger event, during the Dickens Festival Saturday of 2004, the former mayor of Lidth de Jeude and residents stood at her door with burning torches, buckets of water, and a pin to crown her as a knight seeing which her then 5-year-old grandson enthusiastically inquired "Grandma, are you getting a castle now?" Over the years, Emmy, now 84, gathered around 1,000 Dickensian costumes for the annual festival.
Although the municipality joined the organization a long time ago, the event's fundamentals remain the same. Each one of the roughly 1,000 local volunteers dons historical attire that is completely true to Dickens' era. They are not even permitted to carry cell phones or wear watches or contemporary footwear lest they detract from the ambiance of Victorian England. To get ideas on how to accomplish this, the festival organizers even traveled to the world-famous Rochester Dickens Festival. They departed with the conclusion that authenticity would be the primary focus of their event; they did not want Dickens with Santa Claus and more modern Christmas elements, nor did they want Victorian clothes made from modern fabric!
Who organizes the Dickens Festival now?
Today, the Event Agency dEVENTer organizes the Dickens Festival in collaboration with Bergkwartier citizens and business owners, especially the Strik family. The event is made possible by the Municipality of Deventer, the Province of Overijssel, The Dutch Railways, the primary sponsor NV Bergkwartier, and all other sponsors of Deventer Event City.
Why should you visit the Dickens Festival?
Apart from the authentic ambiance, costumes, performances, music, merchandise, food, and fun, to us, the most important contribution of this festival to our lives and society at large, is that it inspires a broader love of books at a time when our children's reading abilities are deteriorating. To be honest, many of the visitors have never read a Dickens book, but they all recognize Scrooge, who goes around yelling "humbug!" and disparaging people. So, you've essentially read a book or two by the time you leave the Dickens festival because there are storytellers who narrate the tale of the books.
The festival also effectively illustrates the disparities between the rich and the poor, a problem we are now attempting to address, albeit fortunately not to the same extent as Dickens' day. For children growing up in the Western world like my son Ricky, who’s not exposed to the harsh realities of life, the scenes from Dicken’s pages force them to empathize with the fact that not everyone is as privileged as we are and that we should do something about it!
Which Dickensian Characters can you find at the Dickens Festival?
Dickens mostly depicted the world of his early childhood. The Dickens Festival offers the chance to interact with many of the key characters from his novels -
Don't be shocked if ‘Ebenezer Scrooge,’ the greedy and unkind character from ‘A Christmas Carol,’ yells at you. Did you hear a bell ring? Oh, there comes the ghost of his deceased friend ‘Jacob Marley’ announcing the arrival of the three spirits namely past, present, and future who would persuade Scrooge to alter his greedy nature.
Explore ‘Bob Cratchit's house, the impoverished clerk in Scrooge's office from ‘A Christmas Carol.’ "God bless us, everyone!" cries ‘Tiny Tim,’ the Cratchit family's ailing and disabled son, as they have a Christmas turkey supper.
A little more on, ‘Miss Havisham,’ the wealthy elderly woman from the novel ‘Great Expectations,’ waits glumly for her husband in her wedding gown amidst all the silver. She spends her days in this manner, adopting girls and teaching them to shatter boys' hearts. You may run into ‘Pip,’ one of her victims, who is deeply infatuated with the arrogant ‘Estelle.’
Along the journey, you might come across a heartwarming school class with a strict teacher coming straight out of the book ‘Nicolas Nickleby'.
You may also follow the humorous exploits of ‘The Pickwick Papers' quirky, credulous ‘Samuel Pickwick’ and ‘The Pickwick Club.’
‘David Copperfield’ walks the streets with his lovely but naive daughter, Dora. Additionally, you might spot David Copperfield's landlord, ‘Mr. Micawber.’ Despite being the epitome of virtue, he had a large hole in his hand.
‘Father Dorrit’ from ‘Little Dorrit’ struggled financially, which led to his family landing in jail. Debtors were sent to the renowned Marshalsea Prison during Charles Dickens' time. Here in the Dickens Festival, you can see what the gloomy London prison felt like.
In the mysterious graveyard at the Bergkerk, the widow ‘Lady Dedlock’ from ‘Bleak House’ laments at the grave of Captain Hawdon next to the gravestones of numerous other victims of the terrible living conditions of the 19th century.
Apart from the above, there are also some peculiar people wandering around the festival. Be wary of Oliver Twist's crafty ‘Fagin,’ a fence and the catalyst for numerous crimes in Victorian London. You will definitely run into Oliver and his pals. Keep an eye on your pockets and bags — they're still thieves!
Street Performances at Dickens Festival
The Dickens Festival in Deventer stands out due to the numerous re-enactments of scenes from the books of Charles Dickens by actors and performers of all ages, choirs, singers, and musicians based on the participation of Bergkwartier locals mostly on the street, but occasionally up on a roof or behind windows. Over 80 (former) students from the Theaterschip eagerly put on their roles (and Victorian attire) each year. Because of all of this, the event is a massive "living outdoor theater." On both days, there will also be a "Sing Along" at the Bergkerk (church), where everyone is free to join in to sing along as the day comes to a close. The gathering will take place between 17:30 and 17:45 CET.
Market Stalls at Dickens Festival
Within the Dickens Festival, there are plenty of vendors selling antiques, jewelry, books, art, food, and beverages. The food options which include custard rolls, sausage rolls, and mince pies, are meant to resemble traditional seasonal English cuisine. Along with that popcorn, doughnuts, candy apples, and hot beverages like glühwein and hot chocolate are also available for purchase.
Dickens Cabinet
The Charles Dickens Cabinet is a permanent Dickens exhibition located in the former Women's Prison in Walstraat based on the collection of Emmy Strik, initiator of the Dickens Festival as mentioned above. Numerous books, including some first editions, prints, exquisite costumes, statues of Dickens characters, and a table set with Dickens tableware are all on display in this tiny museum. The most rare editions and cutting files of Charles Dickens are available for viewing at the library. The Charles Dickens Cabinet is open all year round on Saturdays from 12:00 to 16:00 CET and admission costs €2. You can also contact them for a group tour along with the Costume Studio. So, if you are in Deventer during the Dickens Festival give it a try!
Arriving at the Charles Dickens Festival
Dates: December 13 and 14, 2025
Hours: 11:00 to 17:00 CET
Entry Fee: As of today admission to the Dickens Festival is free. However, at the end of the route, a voluntary contribution is requested. Also, exhibitions inside the Dickens Festival like the Dickens Cabinet require a small amount to enter as mentioned above.
Arriving by Car: If you are arriving by car, I recommend you to park in the Centrumgarage (Address: Op de Keizer 1, 7411 TC Deventer; GPS Coordinates: 52.2548° N, 6.1590° E) behind HEMA and walk 5 minutes to the queuing point. But please bear in mind, if you arrive late, there may be a long queue at the parking garage as well. So plan to arrive early by car or take public transport which is much easier. To find more parking spots in the center if the Centrumgarage is full, take the P-route indicated by the signage. Additionally, parking at the Saxion parking lot, located at Berkelweg 1, is free on the Dickens Festival days.
Arriving by Public Transport: If you are arriving by public transport, just take a train or a bus to the Deventer station. You will be welcomed by Christmas Carol singers and Dickensian characters at the station itself and guided to the queuing point which is around 3 minutes walking from the station. Plan your trip in advance via ns.nl if you are coming by train or 9292.nl if you are coming by bus.
Arriving by Bicycle: The Deventer station has free, monitored bicycle parking available. Additionally, the free, monitored bike parking lots at Lamme van Dieseplein and Op de Keizer are open from 08:45 to 17:30 CET. On the Gedempte Gracht and Leeuwenbrug, more bike racks will be installed.
Queuing Point: The queuing point for entering the Dickens Festival starts from Keizerstraat near the Schouwburg Theater (Address: Leeuwenbrug 2, 7411 TJ Deventer; GPS Coordinates: 52.2557° N, 6.1612° E)
Entry Point to the Festival: From the queuing point as mentioned above, you follow a barrier-guided one-way queue to reach a footbridge (near Walstraat) which is the official entry point for the Charles Dickens Festival. From there, visitors are admitted in groups over the footbridge to enter the Dickens Festival.
Waiting Time: Bear in mind that the Dickens Festival hosts 125,000 guests over just two days on very narrow historic streets of Deventer. Hence, there is a long waiting time at the entrance. The last time we were there, we arrived at 11:00 CET on the first day of the festival which was the official start time. We got to enter the festival only at 14:30 CET i.e. after 3.5 hours of queuing. The average waiting time is up to 2.5 hours and is longest between 11:00 and 13:00 CET. I recommend you to start queuing from 9:30 CET to avoid long waiting times. Also, relieve yourself of any possible nature call and bring your own water and snacks since there are no food stalls in the queue and only one toilet towards the middle of the queue which will take you at least an hour to reach from the queuing point.
Dress: Dress appropriately to stay warm enough for an entire cold Dutch December day outdoors.
Accessibility: There is a special entry at the front of the line at the Walstraat for people with disabilities who cannot wait in line for extended periods of time. One supervisor per person is required. Once at the festival, look for volunteers wearing identifiable white jackets bearing the "wheelchair logo." They will answer all your queries and guide you to the special entry. Also, please note that within the festival, wheelchair users can navigate the terrain, but they must be aware of the cobbled roads and slopes.
Pets: We strongly advise against bringing pets to the festival to avoid possible inconveniences to your pets due to queuing, moving objects, and (unexpected) noises in the event space. Guide and assistance dogs are allowed and no queuing is required for that. You need to report at the entrance gate.
Group Visit: If you want to attend the festival in a large group, we recommend that you get in touch with the organization ahead of time at the Email IDs mentioned below.
Toilets: Paid public restrooms are available along the route and indicated by signage.
Official Website of the Organizers: dickensfestijn.nl/en
Official Email IDs of the Organizers: info@dickensfestijn.nl, info@eventsdeventer.nl
The Walking Route inside the Charles Dickens Festival
The one-way walking route inside the Dickens Festival traverses Walstraat, Golstraat, Damstraat, Roggestraat, Bergstraat, Bergkerkplein, Kerksteeg, Bergschild, and Menstraat in this sequence. All adjacent streets are closed. The length of the complete route is around 2 km and takes about 2 - 3 hours. Below you can find the Dickens Festival walking route map.
The streets inside the festival are jampacked because everyone stops to watch the performers when they perform a small skit. However, they're so funny and engaging that you won’t be bothered by the crowds for once. For any reason, if you choose to leave in the middle of the route, you can use any (emergency) exit you come across. However, you cannot just go back into the festival again through this exit; the main entrance is the only way to do so (for safety reasons).
Take the Dickens Walk (Audio Tour) if you are unable to visit the Dickens Festival
In addition to the 2-day Dickens Festival, there is an audio tour called the "Dickens Walk" running along the entire month of December, for people who are unable to visit the festival on those two days. Listeners are guided through the walk via a selection of Charles Dickens novels through no fewer than eighteen scenes, depicted through picturesque photographs. Numerous parties involved in the Dickens Festival, including the Theaterschip, Volksonderwijs, LaTalenTia, and photographer Charles Niël, collaborated to create the audio tour. The walk can be done using a mobile phone and is appropriate for both young and old. Remember to bring your headphones!
Dates: December 6 to 30, 2025 (except the Dickens Festival days i.e. December 14 and 15)
Starting Point: Illuminated Scrooge at the intersection of Walstraat/ Korte Bisschop/Brink.
Access: Scan (free) the QR code and follow the route.
Additional Information: The Dickens Walk audio tour is only available in Dutch.
Visit Deventer Christmas Markets after Visiting Dickens Festival
Deventer hosts a number of Christmas Markets on the same weekend as the Dickens Festival such as the ones at the Grote of the Lebuinuskerk, the Brink, and the Grote Kerkhof. To know more about the Christmas Markets in Deventer please visit deventer.info
To know more about all Christmas Markets in the Netherlands, please read our article The Dutch Christmas Markets | 9 Best Places to Visit during Christmas in the Netherlands | Top 9 Things to See and Do in the Netherlands during Christmas.
Other Places around the globe where Charles Dickens Festivals are held
Apart from Deventer, Charles Dickens Festivals are held in several cities primarily across the UK, US, and Canada. The most famous of them are listed below -
Dickensian Christmas Festival in Rochester, England
Dickensian Christmas in Grassington, England
Dickens of a Christmas in Olney, England
Dickens Festival in Broadstairs, England
Dickensian Christmas Weekend, Sudbury, England
Dickens Festival in Holly, Michigan, US
Dickens Festival, California, US
Great Dickens Christmas Fair, San Francisco, California, US
Dickens Village Festival, Garrison, North Dakota, US
Dickens in the Village in Asheville, North Carolina, US
Dickens of a Christmas in Spartanburg, South Carolina, US
Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin, Tennessee, US
Dickens on Center on Amelia Island, Florida, US
Dickens on the Strand in Galveston, Texas, US
Dickens Christmas Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, US
Dickens Village Festival, Carlyle, Saskatchewan, Canada
Epilogue
So that was all about the world’s largest Charles Dickens Festival in Deventer, the Netherlands. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article. And until we meet next time, I wish you merry traveling and happy shooting!
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