Severe weather delays famed Dordrecht Christmas market

The first day of the Christmas Market in Dordrecht has been cancelled following the severe storms that are predicted for tomorrow. The rest of the three day event will continue as planned on Saturday and Sunday. Winds of 80 to 90 kilometers per hour are expected for tomorrow morning. According to the organizer, Dordrecht Marketing, this can put the safety of visitors at risk. The construction of the 250 stalls across the city will also be impossible. There are currently urgent consultations happening between the organization, municipality and other stake holders. One of the things they are discussing is whether the whole day will be cancelled, or if some activities can still take place. According to a meteorologist from MeteoGroup, turbulent weather is predicted for 04:00 to 05:00 tomorrow morning. "Then it will quiet down. Saturday and Sunday will be beautiful days." This Christmas Market is the largest of its kind in the Netherlands. Last year it attracted 435 thousand visitors. According to insiders, the cancellation of the first day is quite a blow. "But safety comes first", said a spokesperson for Dordecht Marketing.