Christmas market or stall for charity in the Netherlands

A Christmas stall or market for charity in the Netherlands: planning, the stall, fixed rules, what to ask the municipality and an online extension.

In short A Christmas stall is a low-threshold way to raise money live for a good cause: start six weeks ahead, ask the municipality for a pitch, keep the range small and collect the proceeds online too. Stall rules differ per municipality, so ask first. A donation page catches the people who do not come by.

This article describes the rules in the Netherlands.

In the Netherlands, December belongs to Christmas markets: village squares, churches and schools fill with wooden stalls. For a foundation (stichting) or association (vereniging) that is an opportunity, if you plan practically and know what you decide and what the municipality decides.

A stall, your own market or joining an existing market?

Joining an existing market is often a sensible first step. The organiser arranges location and crowd, you arrange a stall and volunteers. Your own market asks far more: stalls, a programme, safety and municipal permission.

  • Your own stall at an existing market: 5 to 10 volunteers, six weeks of preparation.
  • A stall at your own location: church, school or community centre, often easier to arrange.
  • Your own Christmas market: only after a first experience, with a bigger team and at least three months of preparation.

Unsure about the format? Read Christmas campaign ideas for a good cause in the Netherlands first.

How to plan it in six weeks

Timing is everything. Six weeks leaves room for a municipal application, collecting goods and an online announcement. This schedule works for a team of 5 to 10 people.

  1. Six weeks ahead: call the municipality or the market organiser and ask about pitch, stall rules and costs.
  2. Five weeks ahead: choose the range and divide tasks: purchasing, baking, till, setting up.
  3. Four weeks ahead: set up your donation page and write a short announcement.
  4. Two weeks ahead: plan a rota of shifts of 2 to 3 hours.
  5. On the day: share photos, show the good cause and mention the online link at the till.
  6. Afterwards: thank volunteers and givers and tell them what the proceeds do.

For a full plan, see organising a Christmas campaign in the Netherlands.

What do you sell at the stall?

Keep the range small so your team can sell without stress. Three to five products you can make beforehand beat a stall full of odd items nobody can price.

  • Home-baked Christmas biscuits or stroopwafels (Dutch syrup waffles) in packs.
  • Hot chocolate or erwtensoep (Dutch pea soup).
  • Christmas cards or candles, made by volunteers or children.
  • Small gift packs with a local product and a card.

Use round prices and a clear sign naming the good cause.

Fixed rules and what you ask the municipality

Municipal rules apply to the stall itself: pitch, event permit and stall conditions are local. We cannot confirm which rules apply specifically to charity stalls, so ask the events or permits department of your municipality.

What is fixed runs through national bodies. These are the points organisers often meet.

Collecting with a tin or door to door

Collecting with a tin or house-to-house generally requires a municipal permit, and municipalities decide this themselves. The Central Bureau on Fundraising (CBF) publishes a national collection calendar, but it is advisory. Whether your stall or campaign needs a permit, ask the municipality.

Raffle and bingo

We treat a raffle where people buy tickets for a prize as a lottery under the Betting and Gaming Act (Wet op de kansspelen). That is our reading, not the wording of the Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit). Lotteries with prizes under €4,500 need a permit from the municipality. If in doubt, tell the municipality before selling tickets.

A bingo or wheel of fortune has its own rules. You need no permit, but you report it to the municipality at least 14 days ahead. The association must have existed for at least 3 years. Prizes are at most €400 per series and €1,550 per gathering in total. The municipality can set extra conditions.

Gifts to your good cause and deductions

A gift is only deductible for income tax if the good cause is an ANBI (public benefit organisation), a cultural ANBI or an SBBI. For an ordinary gift, only the part above 1% of the threshold income counts (minimum €60), up to a maximum of 10% of the threshold income. You must prove a gift with bank statements. Cash is not deductible, and anyone who gets something back, such as a raffle ticket or biscuit, is not making a deductible gift.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

A stall reaches passers-by. A donation page reaches everyone who cannot come: family, former members, colleagues. With WeGlow.world you set one up in three steps: amount, details, summary. Givers choose a one-off or monthly gift, also from their phone.

A Christmas market suits the Starry Sky, one of our Christmas experiences. Every gift becomes a star and you fly from star to star. Note: the Christmas experiences are still a concept until the official launch. You can already see the Starry Sky on the experience page.

  • Put a sign with a QR code to your donation page at the till.
  • Let supporters start their own campaign page and invite their network.
  • Set a thank-you text, so givers get a word of thanks straight after their gift.

You build the donation page itself on WeGlow.world. How to set up a page for your Christmas campaign is in the donation page for your Christmas campaign.

Online extension: mailing and thank-you message

A market lasts an afternoon, an online campaign can run for weeks. Invite people to give before and after the market, and thank everyone personally. That keeps your stall alive, also for those who were not there.

For e-mail to donors, work on the basis of consent and put an unsubscribe link in every message, so people can opt out easily. According to the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens), the exception allowing charities to phone donors unasked is about telephone; for e-mail it is not confirmed. You will find example texts in Christmas e-mail for donors.

What do you do with the proceeds?

Have two people count the proceeds and write the amount down. Pay the cash into your foundation's or association's account as soon as possible. Then publish the result, so givers see what their contribution achieved.

An ANBI must also publish details on its own website, such as the RSIN (tax number), the policy plan and a financial report. That report follows yearly, within 6 months of the end of the financial year.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a charity Christmas stall?

That differs per municipality. Pitch, event permit and stall rules are set locally, and we cannot confirm specific rules for charity stalls. Ask the municipality where your stall will stand which application is needed.

May I run a raffle at my Christmas market?

In our reading, a raffle where tickets bought for money can win a prize is a lottery under the Betting and Gaming Act. Below €4,500 in prizes you ask the municipality for a permit. Ask your municipality which conditions apply.

Can donors deduct their gift to my stall?

Only if your organisation is an ANBI, cultural ANBI or SBBI, and even then with a threshold. Cash gifts are not deductible and for an ordinary gift only the part above 1% of the threshold income counts. Donors can look up your ANBI status with the Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst).

When do I start preparing?

Six weeks ahead for a stall at an existing market. At least three months for your own market. Your municipality needs time for applications, your team for making and collecting goods.

Can I also raise money online for my Christmas stall?

Yes. With a donation page on WeGlow.world people can give once or monthly, also from their phone. You share the link at the till, in your announcement and in your thank-you e-mail.

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