Zuidlaardermarkt 2026

The Zuidlaardermarkt takes over the village of Zuidlaren, in the Drenthe municipality of Tynaarlo, on Tuesday 20 October 2026, from 06:00 to 17:00. The municipality, which organises the market, calls it the oldest and largest horse market in the Netherlands and dates it back to 1230.

Why it matters

The market has been part of Zuidlaren for almost eight centuries and, according to the municipality, draws thousands of visitors from the Netherlands and abroad each year. What began as a horse market is now a village-wide day out: alongside the horse trade there is a goods market that the municipality puts at four kilometres of stalls, plus food stands and a funfair.

What happens on the day

The horse market is the historic core. Traders can bring horses and ponies onto the market between 05:00 and 09:30 in the morning, and the trade runs through the day until the market closes at 17:00. The ribbon of market stalls stretches through the village, and the funfair is open for longer than the market itself: from the Friday evening before the market until the Wednesday after it.

Animal welfare rules

The municipality has tightened the rules around the animal trade in recent years. Every horse or pony is inspected by a veterinarian at the entrance, and only after approval and payment of 2 euros per animal may it enter the market. Market staff read each animal’s microchip, there is extra supervision on the loading and unloading of animals, and there are designated quiet areas where animals can stand away from the crowds. Very young horses may no longer be sold at the market.

Practical information

The market is held in the centre of Zuidlaren; the municipality lists the address as Marktstraat 1. The detailed 2026 programme, including funfair opening times, had not been published at the time of writing: the municipality’s programme page states that it will follow.

Common questions

When is the Zuidlaardermarkt 2026?

Tuesday 20 October 2026, from 06:00 to 17:00, in the centre of Zuidlaren.

How old is the market?

The municipality of Tynaarlo dates it to 1230 and describes it as the oldest and largest horse market in the Netherlands.

Is there more than the horse market?

Yes. There are around four kilometres of market stalls through the village, and a funfair that runs from the Friday evening before the market until the Wednesday after it.

What animal welfare rules apply?

Every animal is checked by a veterinarian at the entrance for a fee of 2 euros, its microchip is read by market staff, loading and unloading is supervised, quiet standing areas keep animals away from the crowds, and very young horses may no longer be sold.

Where is Zuidlaren?

Zuidlaren is a village in the municipality of Tynaarlo, in the province of Drenthe, in the north-east of the Netherlands.