Christmas in
Netherlands
Celebrated: December 5-6 (Sinterklaas) and December 25-26 (Kerstdagen)
Signature traditions
- 1.Sinterklaas — December 5 evening — the original Saint Nicholas tradition that became Santa Claus
- 2.Pakjesavond ('Gift Evening') on December 5 — the major family gift exchange happens BEFORE Christmas Day
- 3.Children leave shoes by the chimney with carrots for Sinterklaas's horse, finding them filled with small gifts in the morning
- 4.Christmas itself (December 25-26) is quieter — focused on long family meals over two days (First and Second Christmas Day)
- 5.Gourmetten — a small tabletop grill where the family slowly cooks bite-sized portions over 2-3 hours
What's on the table
Gourmetten and pepernoten
Gourmetten is uniquely Dutch: a small electric grill in the middle of the table where everyone slowly cooks their own meats, fish, and vegetables for hours. Pepernoten — small spiced cookies — are eaten constantly through the Sinterklaas season.
The iconic decoration
Sinterklaas window displays
Through November and early December, Sinterklaas — the saint, not Santa — and his horse Amerigo dominate window displays. Lights and trees appear later, after Sinterklaas wraps up on December 6, leaving room for the Kerstdagen aesthetic.
How gifts are given
Most gifts are exchanged on Sinterklaasavond (December 5). The Dutch tradition includes writing personalized rhyming poems for each gift, often paired with elaborate handmade 'surprise' wrapping that hides the gift creatively or comically.
Did you know?
Sinterklaas — Saint Nicholas in his original Dutch form — is the direct historical ancestor of Santa Claus. Dutch settlers brought the tradition to New Amsterdam (now New York) in the 1600s, where 'Sinterklaas' gradually anglicized into 'Santa Claus.' The modern American Santa is essentially a Dutch saint after centuries of cultural drift.