DutchNews.nl - Sinterklaas 'back in the Netherlands'

Weather

Friday: Cold and sunny everywhere. Heavy frost at night. Similar Saturday but thaw possible Sunday

Sinterklaas 'back in the Netherlands'

Monday 16 November 2009

Some 40,000 people turned up in Schiedam on Saturday to witness the annual 'arrival' of Sinterklaas, or Saint Nicholas, the inspiration behind Santa Claus.

The arrival of the Sint, ostensibly from Spain and accompanied by his helpers or Pieten (Petes), is always broadcast live on tv and marks the start of the Dutch festive season.

Dutch shopkeepers, who have seen sales down 10% this year because of the recession, are hoping for a last-minute surge in present-buying ahead of the December 5 celebrations.

For more on the Sinterklaas tradition, click here

Subscribe Newsletter
Print-version
News archives

Readers' comments

Hmm... the Dutch prophet/sage returns after a full year of unemployment, not a bad job, where do I enlist?

By stevie | November 16, 2009 6:40 PM

Wow.. I've certainly 'missed' the racist holiday! How fun! Now I get to explain again to my son why we do not celebrate this holiday as he comes home with drawings of it that the teacher made him do!

By Laura | November 18, 2009 11:45 AM

I whole heartedly agree with Laura. I only recently moved here having lived in London and New York and I am in deep shock and horror about the public affection for this racist image which sterotypes Black People. Its a poor reflection of this society and is tradition which does not belong in this era.

By RR | November 20, 2009 10:39 PM

Comments have been closed for this article.

News