Sparkling World Heritage

While the Advent season is often hectic in many places, various events at Zollverein offer the opportunity to pause and enjoy the festive season in a cosy atmosphere: For example, at the Ruhr Museum’s knitting café, where crochet fans can become part of a real mammoth project stitch by stitch every Friday until 19 December, accompanied by biscuits, tea and convivial conversation. The Folkwang University of the Arts‘ Advent calendar, visible from afar, also fuels anticipation. From 1 to 24 December, it shortens the wait for Christmas in the SANAA building with 24 uniquely designed windows instead of doors. There will be all sorts of lovely things to browse and discover on 7 December at Koks und Kandis, the first Advent bazaar in the Kammgebäude building on the coking plant site, because what would December be without a Christmas market?

But even aside from the Christmas spirit, there is plenty to experience at Zollverein in December: a special highlight for all those who love musicals and the Ruhr region will take place from 3 to 7 December with RUHRICAL – the Ruhr region musical, which tells the stories of the Ruhr region in a rousing mix of pop, rock and Schlager music. In the broadest sense, storytelling is also the focus of the SoundTrek documentary The Way We Sound on 11 December, which traces the journey from the first beats to the finished works of the youth music project „SoundTrek“ in an evening between screen and stage. PACT Zollverein presents a performance about the search for connection and language on 12 and 13 December with Jefta van Dinther’s play Mercury Rising, which is designed for both hearing and non-hearing audiences through the use of various sign languages. And, of course, winter is also a great time to visit one of the varied exhibitions at the Ruhr Museum and the Red Dot Design Museum or take part in an exciting and informative guided tour of the Zollverein Heritage Site.

While things tend to be rather quiet at this time of year, the New Year’s Eve Run on 31 December brings plenty of excitement to the World Heritage Site. The traditional run across the grounds of the huge industrial monument offers all athletically ambitious Zollverein fans the opportunity to finish 2025 with their personal best time. The Folkwang Chamber Orchestra Essen will provide the perfect musical finale to the year, kicking off the Final Countdown with its two New Year’s Eve concerts in the late afternoon and evening.

It doesn’t get any cooler than this:
the Zollverein Ice Rink

Hardly any other winter leisure activity at the World Heritage Site attracts as many visitors at the same time as the 150-metre-long Zollverein Ice Rink: When the former printing machine track on the coking plant site is transformed once again into probably the most beautiful place to skate in Germany from 6 December to 6 January, everyone from beginners to professionals is invited to take to the ice in front of the impressive industrial backdrop – whether on skates, with or without skating aids, in a wheelchair or in a rehab buggy. A visit to the ice rink after dark is a particularly impressive experience thanks to the dazzling light installation by Mark Major and Jonathan Speirs. Anyone who can’t get enough of this should definitely mark 13 December and 3 January in their calendars, because that’s when the spectacular ice disco takes place again. For convivial competitions in small groups, there is an additional area for curling right next to the Zollverein Ice Rink – this team event is particularly popular with companies and families.

Work up an appetite?

No problem: in the winter village around the Zollverein Ice Rink, cosy street food huts offer warm drinks and tasty snacks to keep you going. Throughout the event, the deinKult Café in the former coking plant mixing facility will be serving winter hot drinks and hearty Ruhr classics. And, of course, the restaurants on the site of the former coal mine, such as Café Kohlenwäsche, Bistro Schacht XII, The Mine and Casino Zollverein, are also looking forward to welcoming hungry guests.

Giving gifts brings joy

Throughout the year, the various shops at Zollverein offer high-quality items to give as gifts or treat yourself to, such as the unusual furniture from MÖBELLOFT, the distinctive tiles from Golem, the sustainably produced soaps from Sapor or the handmade pieces from the Margaretenhöhe ceramics. Suitable gifts for all fashion-conscious friends and acquaintances can also be found in the shop of the fashion label Grubenhelden or in the Schmuckprodukt gallery. And why not give a piece of world heritage as a gift? A selection of varied Zollverein souvenirs is available at the Walther König bookshop in the coal washing plant, and the complete range is available in the Zollverein online shop.

The best gift: time together

By the way: at www.zollverein.de, you can get tickets for many future events at the World Heritage Site at the touch of a button. The Zollverein ticket shop also offers a selection of vouchers for the most popular guided tours of the World Heritage Site – even on 24 December for last-minute visitors!

A breath of fresh air for the new year

Traditionally, many institutions at Zollverein are closed on 24, 25 and 31 December, and the impressive outdoor area with its illuminated Christmas tree in the courtyard of honour is particularly recommended for a contemplative walk during the Christmas holidays. From 26 to 30 December, many attractions such as the Zollverein Ice Rink, the Ruhr Museum, the Portal of Industrial Heritage and the Red Dot Design Museum are open, so nothing stands in the way of an extended visit to Zollverein between Christmas and New Year. However, please note that opening hours are subject to change.

The Zollverein Foundation wishes all visitors a happy new year 2026 and thanks them for an eventful 2025 with many highlights.