Cattle still anchor Woerden’s Koeiemart

Editors · 9 October 2026

On 21 October judging, stalls and old food traditions meet in the town centre. The event traces its roots to a market privilege granted in 1410.

Cattle on Kerkplein at the 2017 Koeiemart; archive photograph, not 2026. · Photo: Ellywa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image

Woerden holds its Koeiemart on Wednesday 21 October 2026. Cattle arrive and are washed on Kerkplein from 6 am; judging starts at 9 am. The street market in the centre runs from 8 am to 5 pm. It is an early day with more than one kind of market.

The event began with a 1410 privilege from Duke John of Bavaria allowing a free annual market for horses and cattle. Until 1935 these were separate markets. Since October 2017 the Koeiemart has been listed in the Dutch Inventory of Intangible Heritage: recognition of a living tradition, not protected monument status.

Cattle remain central to the programme. Children show calves at 11 am; at 2 pm comes the Woerdens Mooiste contest and at 3 pm the animals return to their farms. Meanwhile, local makers gather in Nieuwstraat, with agricultural machinery on Haven and Emmakade.

Street-market stalls at the Woerden Koeiemart in 2015; archive photograph. · Photo: Ellywa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image

Tradition also reaches the table. According to the heritage inventory, pea soup, poffertjes and kristaljons belong to the day. Town-centre businesses surround it with a Snertweek, including the Nacht van Woerden on 20 October and a lantern parade on 23 October.

The municipality warns of road closures from 19 to 22 October. Parking is available near the station and in the Castellum and Defensie-eiland garages. The Koeiemart is best explored on foot; check current traffic information before travelling.