We head to Valkenburg today to see the famed Christmas caves and do some Crimbo shopping. It costs about 3.75 euros for adults and 2 for kids.

The entrance to the caves is gorgeous, in a tiny 'village' with a huge nativity scene and Father Christmas and Rudolph with their sleigh on top of the huts. Surrounding huts sell bratwursts and hot chocolate, perfect winter fuel.

The caves are quite stunning, huge height and width which you could easily get lost in and they must go on for miles underground and look like they have been heavily quarried. They are filled with stalls shaped in the guise of olde worlde houses (or just traditional stalls) selling everything you could possibly want or need (my desire for the chocolate waffle was definitely more of a want than a need and I can say it was delicious). There are also beautiful Christmas and winter wonderland scenes, my favourite being the polar bears. I think the only thing it lacked was a grotto with Father Christmas for the kids, as the long market stalls can get a bit tedious for kids and if they see Father Christmas on the roof next to the cave, surely you would expect to see him inside?

Anyway, the rest of the town was just as lovely and beautifully decorated. Cobbled streets, square windows on old fashioned streets with decorative lamps, lights everywhere and the tantalising smells (and heat) from the numerous restaurant don't so much invite you in, but lassoo you in.

The only things missing was a band playing Christmas carols (in any language) as this would have really sealed the atmosphere, and of course snow (but you can't blame Valkenburg for not providing that!). Snow would have made it feel like a winter scene from Charles Dickens' Scrooge.

In the end I only bought a pair of slipper clogs - not quite the pink ones I wanted to buy in Edam, but they are great!