In France, December means Christmas. In the Netherlands, the celebration children wait for all year comes three weeks earlier: Sinterklaas, the Dutch Saint Nicholas. Our brand was born from a Franco-Dutch heritage, so here is what you need to know about this tradition, and how to borrow a little of its spirit this year.
Reading time: 5 min
In brief
- Sinterklaas is the Dutch Saint Nicholas, celebrated on the evening of December 5th: pakjesavond, the evening of gifts.
- He arrives from Spain by boat in mid-November and leaves on December 6th.
- Among adults, each gift is hidden in a handmade surprise and comes with a rhyming poem.
- Our gift ideas with a Dutch accent start at €39.
Contents
- What is Sinterklaas? Who is he?
- His arrival by boat, mid-November
- December 5th: pakjesavond, the evening of gifts
- Surprises and poems: the grown-ups' real game
- Sinterklaas vs Christmas: what's the difference?
- Giving in the Sinterklaas spirit: our gift ideas with a Dutch accent
- Frequently asked questions about Sinterklaas
- Ordering in time for December 5th
What is Sinterklaas? Who is he?
Sinterklaas is the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and protector of children. With his long white beard, mitre and staff, he looks like a cousin of Father Christmas. That's no coincidence: America's Santa Claus partly descends from the Sinterklaas that Dutch settlers brought to New York, once New Amsterdam.
Saint Nicholas is also celebrated in France on December 6th, in Lorraine, Alsace and the North. But in the Netherlands, it is a true national event.
His arrival by boat, mid-November
According to tradition, Sinterklaas lives in Spain. Every year in mid-November he arrives in the Netherlands by steamboat: the intocht, broadcast on television, in a different city each year. He travels with his white horse and his helpers, the Pieten.
In the weeks that follow, children leave a shoe by the fireplace at night, with a carrot or a little hay for the horse. In the morning, they often find a small treat inside.
December 5th: pakjesavond, the evening of gifts
The big moment is the evening of December 5th: pakjesavond, literally "parcel evening". Someone knocks at the door, a handful of pepernoten (small spiced biscuits) flies into the hallway, and a sack of presents waits on the doorstep.
On the table: chocolate letters with everyone's initial, speculaas and kruidnoten. The next day, December 6th, Sinterklaas sets off back to Spain.
Surprises and poems: the grown-ups' real game
Among adults, Sinterklaas becomes a game of imagination. About a month before, everyone draws the name of the person they will give a gift to, within a budget set in advance.
But the gift is never handed over as it is. It is hidden inside a surprise: a handmade creation, often in papier-mâché or cardboard, that winks at the person receiving it. And it always comes with a rhyming poem, signed "Sint", that gently teases its recipient. It is read aloud in front of everyone before the parcel is opened.
That may be the most beautiful idea behind Sinterklaas: a gift is worth as much for the thought put into it as for what it contains.
Sinterklaas vs Christmas: what's the difference?
| Sinterklaas | Christmas | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Evening of December 5th | December 24th and 25th |
| Who brings the gifts | Sinterklaas, from Spain | Father Christmas, from the North Pole |
| Ride | A white horse | Reindeer |
| Where gifts are found | In a shoe, then a sack at the door | Under the tree |
| Among adults | Name draw, handmade surprise and poem | Family gift exchange |
| Treats | Pepernoten, kruidnoten, speculaas, chocolate letters | Christmas cake, chocolates |
Giving in the Sinterklaas spirit: our gift ideas with a Dutch accent
You don't need to be Dutch to adopt the tradition. Choose a piece, hide it in a surprise, write four lines of verse. Here are our ideas, all made in limited runs.
| Budget | Piece | Price | The Dutch touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under €50 | Matthieu Mondrian T-shirt | €39 | Mondrian, the most famous Dutch painter |
| Under €150 | Anna top | €119 | Embroidered with our tulip |
| Under €150 | Marie Pierra crop top | €139 | In green, red or black |
| Stand-out gift | Emilie pants | €159 | Amsterdam canal-house embroidery |
| Stand-out gift | Tessa pants | €159 | Tulip-embroidered pockets |
| Stand-out gift | Femke corset | €229 | Tulip-shaped bust |
| Stand-out gift | Emma dress | €249 | Tulip embroidery |
| Stand-out gift | Maggie coat | €499 | Tulip-shaped pockets |
Frequently asked questions about Sinterklaas
When is Sinterklaas?
Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands in mid-November. The main celebration, pakjesavond, is on the evening of December 5th. On December 6th, Saint Nicholas Day, he leaves for Spain.
What is the difference between Sinterklaas and Santa Claus?
Sinterklaas is a bishop with a mitre and staff who comes from Spain on horseback and brings gifts on December 5th. Santa Claus, who partly descends from him, comes from the North Pole by sleigh on December 24th.
How do you write a Sinterklaas poem?
A few rhyming stanzas, written in the third person and signed "Sint". The poem gently teases its recipient about a habit or a story from the year, then hints at the gift. It is read aloud before the parcel is opened.
What do people eat at Sinterklaas?
Pepernoten and kruidnoten, small spiced biscuits, speculaas, and a chocolate letter with everyone's initial.
What gift should I give for Sinterklaas?
A gift within the budget set at the name draw, hidden in a handmade surprise. Our gift ideas with a Dutch accent start at €39 with the Mondrian T-shirt.
Ordering in time for December 5th
Our pieces are prepared within 1 to 3 business days, then delivered in 2 to 8 business days depending on the destination. To receive your gift before December 5th, order before mid-November. Shipping is free from €200 in France and the European Union.
In Paris? Come and choose your surprise at Konepa, 55 rue Condorcet, or find all our stockists.
Fijne Sinterklaas!
By Guillaume Aubagnac, designer of Guillaume Alexandre.