CHRISTMAS in the

Netherlands
presented by Chiriac patricia Cozma teodor, Prisacariu
ștefan și Viciriuc edwina
 sinterklaas
1. For most children in The Netherlands, the most important day during December is 5th December, when Sinterklaas
(St. Nicholas) brings them their presents!

2. St. Nicholas' Day is on the 6th December, but in The Netherlands, the major celebrations are held on the 5th
December, St. Nicholas' Eve. The name Santa Claus comes from the name Sinterklaas.

3. It all starts on the second Saturday of November (the first Saturday after 11th November) when Sinterklaas travels
to a city or town in The Netherlands. Dutch tradition says that St. Nicholas lives in Madrid, Spain and every year he
chooses a different harbour to arrive in The Netherlands, so as many children as possible get a chance to see him.

4. Sinterklass travels with his servants called 'Zwarte Pieten' ('Black Peters') or 'Sooty Pieten'/'Roetpieten' (Sooty or
Chimney Peters). When Sinterklaas and the Piets come ashore from the steam boat, all of the local church bells ring
in celebration. Sinterklaas, dressed in his red robes, leads a procession through the town, riding a white horse.
Every town in The Netherlands has a few Sinterklaas helpers, dressed the same as Sinterklaas and the Piets who
help give the presents out.

5. The evening of December 5th is called St. Nicholas’ Eve 'Sinterklaasavond' or 'Pakjesavond' (present evening). The
children will receive their presents during the evening. There might be a knock at the door and you might find a
sack full of presents
 Traditional foods

Sinterklaas parties are often held on St. Nicholas' Eve (5th), where treasure hunt games are played with poems and riddles
giving the clues. Children follow the clues to find little presents left by Sinterklaas. Special biscuits and sweets are also eaten
at the party. One type of biscuit is called 'letter blanket' or 'banketletter' (meaning letter cake), which is made from marzipan or
pastry. The biscuits are made in the shapes of the first letter of the peoples names who are at the party. Another sweet biscuit
that is eaten at the parties are 'pepernoot' which are made with cinnamon and spices in the pastry biscuit mix.
On the 6th of December Sinterklaas (the birthday of Sinterklaas) leaves The Netherlands by steamboat via the entrance of the
port of Rotterdam (Europe’s largest port) called the Hook of Holland and he travels back to Spain.
Christmas celebrations in The Netherlands are separate from the visit of Sinterklaas!

Christmas Day itself is a much quieter day in The Netherlands, with a Church Service and family meal. Sometimes there is a
special Christmas
Day 'Sunday School' in the afternoon at the church, where the Christmas Story and other traditional stories are told. These are
often the only
presents children will get on Christmas Day because they have already received most of their presents on St. Nicholas Day.

On Christmas Eve night, Dutch Children believe that Santa Claus, (who is also called 'Christmas man' / 'Kerstman' to avoid
confusion with
Sinterklaas!) comes from Lapland in Finland to deliver more presents!

Christmas Day is known as 'Eerste Kerstdag' (first Christmas day) and the day after Christmas is called 'Tweede Kerstdag' (second
Christmas
day). On the second day people tend to visit their families and big shops are also often open on Tweede Kerstdag. The traditional
way to eat
with the family is called 'gourmetten', which is a little stove that is put on the table and where everyone prepares their own meal
while seated.

Many people in The Netherlands also have a Christmas Tree in their houses.
 Amsterdam’s
Christmas MARKETS
Although Christmas markets are known as tourists’ attractions, because they’re located close to the canals, a lot of locals are passing by these places as
well. A few of the most famous ones are:

1) Ice Village
This small Christmas Market is held every December in front of the Rijksmuseum at the Museumplein in Amsterdam. There, you canl discover all
kinds of gadgets, Christmas accessories, live entertainment and delicious food in the cozy winter chalets. Sports enthusiasts can even take a break from
their Christmas shopping for a round on the ice rink.

2) Amsterdam Christmas Market

Inside the Westergas in Amsterdam’s northern’s side a wonderful Christmas Market is waiting to be discovered. If you try hard enough you can find
the perfect Christmas gifts and have them gift wrapped too. After shopping you can even listen to live music while enjoying a traditional drink right
after you leave the kids at the special children's program.

3)Amsterdam Light Festival

During Christmas the streets are decorated with many lights, but not only the streets light up. Dozens of artworks and installations from national and
international artists decorate the canals and the center of city and some of them can be purchased as well. There are different departure points so there
is always one that fits your itinerary.
 Marry christmas in
dutch

In Dutch Happy/Merry Christmas can be said as 'Prettige Kerst'

(Happy Christmas), 'Zalig Kerstfeest' or 'Zalig Kerstmis' (both mean
Merry Christmas) or 'Vrolijk Kerstfeest' (Cheerful Christmas). In West-
Frisian (Frysk) spoken in Friesland/Fryslân)it's 'Noflike Krystdagen'
(Comfortable Christmas days); in Bildts spoken in Friesland it's
'Noflike Korsttydsdagen' (Comfortable Christmastide days).
 Fun facts about christams in the netherlands
1. 1. Pakjesavond is for Presents (Not Christmas Eve)
2. Children in the Netherlands receive presents from Sinterklaas on December 5th, pakjesavond, instead of Christmas
Eve.  Pakjesavond literally means “presents evening.”

3. 2. No Christmas Trees Until After Sinterklaas

4. While Many Americans will put up Christmas trees around Thanksgiving, Christmas trees aren’t put up in the
Netherlands until after Sinterklaas. So don’t expect to see decked halls until December 7th. 

5. 3. Sinterklaas Arrives by Boat

6. While most Europeans begin celebrating Christmas on December 1st, the Dutch begin the first Saturday after
November 11th when Sinterklaas arrives on a boat from Spain. 

7. 4. Sinterklaas Dresses Like a Catholic Bishop

8. While Sinterklaas and Santa Claus share white hair and a long beard, Sinterklaas dresses like a Catholic bishop in
long, red robes, and mitre hat.

9. 5. Sinterklaas Rides a Horse (and There is No Rudolph)

10. Instead of a sleigh pulled by reindeer, Sinterklaas rides a white horse named Amerigo
 Fun facts

1. 6. Wooden Shoes Instead of Stockings

2. Rather than hanging stockings, well-behaved Dutch children leave wooden shoes out for Sinterklaas to fill. They
often leave carrots, hay, or sugar cubes for Sinterklaas’ horse along with a poem or letter for him.
3. 7. The Story Behind Chocolate Coins
4. Zwarte Piet carries a bag filled with goodies, usually chocolate coins and mandarin oranges. The sack of gifts, in
particular the gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins, are symbolic of the assistance Saint Nicholas gave a poor father
back in the 3rd Century.  The father didn’t have a dowry for his three daughters, a necessity for marriage in Asia
Minor at the time.  To save the young women from the alternative — a life of prostitution — Sinterklaas dropped
three sacks of gold coins down the chimney.
 Resourc
es
● https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/holland.shtml
● https://everydaywanderer.com/christmas-in-the-netherlands
● https://youtu.be/sOwrRyfKKIM
● https://amsterdam.org/en/event/119/christmas-market.html