Sinterklaas presents are increasingly bought online, webshop organisation Thuiswinkel.org said on Thursday.

This year, online retailers estimate sales of toys, books and electronics will hit €1.3bn, a rise of 35% on last year.

‘Sinterklaas is embracing the new technology and is using his mobile to buy in presents,’ according to spokesman Wijnand Jongen. Almost twice as many presents have been bought using a smartphone as in 2015.

Among the most popular presents this year are the new Harry Potter book and Astrid Holleeder’s book Judas, about her gangland boss brother Willem Holleeder. Toys such as Lego Star Wars and stacking game Kapla planks are among the highest scoring toys. Best-selling games include Escape Room: The Game and 30 seconds.

Online shopping sales rose 17% in the first six months of this year, compared with the same period in 2015.