Halloween, Sint-Maarten, and Sinterklaas haven't even been and gone yet, but this neighbourhood in the Dutch city of Almelo is already set for Christmas. Festivities started a little earlier this year, and residents have already put up their extravagant Christmas decorations! 

Christmas in Almelo

Every year, the residents of Vinkenplein in Almelo go all-out, lighting up the outside of their homes and getting everyone in the festive spirit. But this year, the residents have set up their decorations a couple of weeks earlier than usual, in an attempt to bring some joy to people’s days now that the Netherlands has entered into a semi-lockdown. 

Local residents Gerrit Agterbosch and Joey Haisch are both extremely passionate about Christmas, and Agterbosch has been decorating the outside of his own home for 15 years, after he was inspired by American films.

A whole new level of Christmas decorations

Every year, the decorations are bigger and better than the year before. “It's getting crazier,” Agterbosch laughs. “This year we have added some new things: I’m projecting falling snowflakes onto our house with a beamer, and we’ll do more of that on other houses - beautiful, right?” 

Garden centres across the Netherlands have also noticed that people are keen to start buying new Christmas decorations and get their homes ready for the festive season. Christmas tree farmers and sellers are expecting demand to increase sharply this winter.