European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 16, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse For Sis Roger j. Mterty4 sign above the Cave Entrance sap Quot train Entrance Quot in dutch but Don t be alarmed. The train is a tourist trolly that fates people on Tours of the caves. It does t operate during the Christmas Market. Cave guarantees visitors warm dry shopping by Rosemary Sawyer Brussels Bureau thanks to its location deep inside a dutch Cave the Valkenburg Christmas Market offers a guarantee seasoned shoppers can appreciate and few other european markets can match unlike such traditional German markets As Nurnberg and Cologne where the weather is As unpredictable As the edibility of to Gingerbread the Valkenburg Market promises visitors a lukewarm 54 degrees everyday of course it s also protected from rain the element that can Dampen a shopper s spirits More quickly than Market vendors can shut Down at closing time. An association of store owners in the spa town located about five Miles East of maastricht began holding the Market in the Cave in 1906, said Rita Hoefnagels Public affairs specialist for the 54th base support in in nearby Schinnen Netherlands. About 50 vendors sell Christmas gifts and goodies along a Long narrow passageway called the Cebee Negrot or municipal Cave. The manmade Cave like Many others in the dutch province of Limburg was Cut from Sandstone which was used to construct churches houses and Walls. The Market stretches about one third of a mile into the Hill but Only represents a Small part of the Cave s underground corridors Hoefnagels said. The stands with their red and Green canopies look like those at Christmas markets set up on european Market squares everywhere. But candles mounted on the Walls create a warm cozy atmosphere a although Claustro Hobes May beg to differ Quot it s great Quot said air Force maj. Keith Wolfsberger comparing it to various markets in Germany. He called the Cave experience Quot very interesting Quot Jurgen Harmuth a German Friend of the officer assigned to Allied forces Central Europe Headquarters in Brun sum was More pragmatic in his Praise Quot it s 1 interesting and it s dry Quot one of the Market s organizers to Drissen said 90,000 people browsed stands in the Cave last year a spokeswoman for the tourist information office said that this year More than 8 500 visited in the first Day and a half alone the Market opened on dec 4 and runs through sunday every Corner of the Cavern is filled with Bye or recorded Christmas music. Vendors offer a wide variety of merchandise from socks and compact discs to handicrafts and fancy aquariums. Shoppers can also buy candles baked goods Christmas wreaths jewelry and watches. A couple of nativity scenes set in recesses in the Cave Walls briefly interrupt the obviously commercial Enterprise. But not for Fong however As a sign on yellow poster Board Between visitor and the Virgin Mary explains that sheep like those in the pm me scene Are for Sale in three sizes not far from the creches an Artisan a peddles statues and plaques made from Sandstone Quot from the Valkenburg names Are engraved free a Short distance from the Sandstone Vendor parents of Small children wih find two very important features a bathrooms and a kiddie ride. Crowds Are Langeston sundays so organizers try to restrict the flow of shoppers into the Cave. Visitors May have to wait in line to enter Hoefnagels said. However the wait which is unlikely to take More than 20 minutes need not be unpleasant. Music piped into the Cave also emanates from loudspeakers along the streets and several food Booths Are set up by the Entrance. At Christmas Valkenburg turns itself into a Christmas Village. The City s Many shops and restaurants Are All beautifully decorated with fresh greenery red bows candles and White lights stretch across the shopping streets. Live Christmas Trees Dot the sidewalks and cafes entice clients with warm terraces Apple strudel and mulled wine. Many places also serve a warm chocolate drink called Cho Comel. 10 stripes Magazine december 16, 1993
