This article, authored by Derek VanBuskirk is republished under the Creative Commons “CC BY-NC-ND” license with permission from The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Authorities in Europe and the U.S. have closed or restricted many Christmas markets amid security concerns, moves that have followed years of terrorist attacks.
Although many mainstream outlets reject claims that there are mass full-scale closures of these markets, restrictions made by officials are leading larger markets to adapt, while leaving smaller markets in the dust.
Multiple German Christmas markets have closed while many others have beefed up their security, according to reports. This follows a 2024 terrorist attack, where a Saudi refugee allegedly drove a car through Magdeburg, Germany, killing six people and injuring nearly 300 more, according to Le Monde.
But this attack was merely the latest incident in a trend. In 2016, a terrorist killed at least 12 people by driving a tractor-trailer through a market in Berlin, according to Euro News. In 2017, six Syrian nationals, asylum seekers, were arrested on allegations of plotting an attack on an Essen market with bombs and firearms, according to their prosecutors. In 2023, a plot was uncovered to allegedly ram an explosive-laden vehicle into a market in Leverkusen, Euro News reported.
Markets in Overath, Rostock and Dortmund are facing closures this Advent, according to The Catholic Register. Multiple local officials cited security costs as one reason for Dortmund shuttering. A year and a half of negotiations between Overath officials and Christmas market organizers over who would pay for the heightened security expenses fell through, Chairman Andreas Koschmann of the city marketing association told the Rheinische Post. This forced the market to shutter.
The historical Christmas market in Rostock was postponed to spring, leaving behind any connection to Christmas altogether, according to Mein Bavaria.
Kerpen’s Christmas market has also been closed, according to German outlet Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. Kolpingstadt Kerpen Action Group (AGK) Chairman Rene Hovel said organizers were told they would have to close off the market from all sides entirely at their cost.
Many of Germany’s Christmas markets, one of its largest tourist magnets, have faced an average increase of 44% in security fees over the last three years, according to the Federal Association of City and Town Marketing (BCSD).
“Events in public spaces are far more than entertainment — they are the heart of our society, a meeting place for citizens, an expression of tradition, community and identity. If markets and festivals are canceled, society loses its center,” Federal Chairman of the BCSD Gerold Leppa said. “Increasing regulations and costs threaten these central places of togetherness. City marketing organizations and event organizers now need clear guidelines and support to preserve tradition, culture and community.”
Magdeburg holds one of the largest markets and was only able to reopen this year due to the pushback of local leaders, according to local paper Die Zeit.
Even after €250,000 had been invested in the security system of the Magdeburg market, according to the city, the State Administrative Office at first said it was not enough and reportedly refused the permit for the market.
However, the city’s mayor, Simone Borris, said counterterrorism measures are the responsibility of the state, Die Zeit reported. The Christmas market eventually opened in 2025, but with a heavy security presence, according to the AFP.
At least one major Christmas market in the U.S. also faces significant obstacles due in part to safety concerns. Twelve hours before the doors of the Loop’s Christkindlmarket opened, the city of Chicago told vendors they would have to greatly cut down their occupancy limit, organizers claimed to CBS News.
The nearly 30-year-old market opened Nov. 20, according to Block Club Chicago. It was limited to a capacity of 1,553 visitors after opening its doors, which contrasts with the 3,494 capacity allotted in 2021 amid COVID-19 measures.
“Even with social distancing during COVID, our capacity limits were more than double what they are now, as of last week,” said President and CEO Mark Tomkins of The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, the organization in charge of the market.
“If we have 40% less, we will not survive,” vendor Wolfgang Poennighaus said.
The limit has gone up by another 1,000 due to negotiations between the city and the Christmas market, a city spokesperson stated, according to WTTW. A Chicago Mayor’s Office spokesperson said the successful market has strained Daley Plaza’s capacity but also noted that safety was one of their top priorities.
The Daily Caller reached out to the City of Chicago about whether the restrictions were related to the attacks in Europe, but has not heard back as of publication.
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