Celebrating Sinterklaas: tips, traditions & gift-giving evening essentials

Every year, Christmas seems to gain a little more ground. Christmas trees are already in stores in October, Mariah Carey is playing from the speakers earlier and earlier, and Sinterklaas Eve? It's in danger of slowly fading into the background. A shame, because Sinterklaas is so much more than a warm-up for the holidays in the Netherlands. It's a unique Dutch tradition with self-written poems, creative surprises, and personal humor—something you don't often find at Christmas.

So it's high time for a Sinterklaas essentials article. Whether you grew up with gingerbread nuts in your shoe or are experiencing this for the first time this year, here you can read exactly how it works and why this tradition deserves to be kept alive.

Your Sinterklaas evening checklist
This is what you need for a successful Christmas evening:

• Gifts, wrapped with a poem
• Bowls with gingerbread, chocolate and tangerines
• Candles and mood lighting
• Background music (Sinterklaas song playlist)
• A simple meal beforehand (preferably mashed potatoes or pea soup)
  

What is Sinterklaas evening actually?

Let's get the basics straight. Sinterklaas is a (very) old man with a long white beard, a red miter, a golden staff, and a white horse (grey). He comes—according to tradition—from Spain and arrives in the Netherlands sometime in mid-November on his steamboat. His helpers, the Pieten (Black Petes), assist him in delivering presents. In the weeks leading up to December 5th, children leave their shoes by the stove (or radiator), hoping a present or candy will appear inside during the night. Sometimes a carrot is left by the shoe for Sinterklaas's horse, along with a drawing or a wish list.

The grand finale is St Nicholas Eve on December 5th. All the presents are handed out, and Sinterklaas bids farewell until next year.

This is what Christmas Eve looks like

Traditionally, the whole family gathers on the evening of December 5th. Sometimes they eat first, often something simple like mashed potatoes or pea soup, but of course, it's all about the presents. These are placed in a large jute sack (Sinterklaas's sack) or basket, and are packed and unpacked one by one.

What's so special about Sinterklaas? Every gift comes with a poem. It humorously pokes fun at the recipient, highlighting funny characteristics or situations from the past year. Not mean-spirited, but with a wink. And yes, rhyming is mandatory. This results in poetry that can be beautiful, sometimes hilariously bad.

The art of the Sinterklaas poem

Writing a poem feels like a chore for many people, but it really doesn't have to be complicated. A classic Sinterklaas poem is four to eight lines, rhymes (more or less), and includes a personal joke or hint about the recipient.

For example: Is your partner getting a book? Then write something about how they always fall asleep on the couch. Are you giving your child new soccer cleats? Mention that one missed penalty. It's about the laughs, not literary prizes. Lacking inspiration? These days, AI can help you along the way. No one will even notice.

Also read: Must-haves for a wonderful Sinterklaas evening

Surprises: gifts with a twist

Besides poems, the Netherlands also has the surprise (pronounced: sur-pri-zuh). This is a homemade craft in which you hide the gift. The surprise usually has a theme that suits the recipient. Does someone enjoy gardening? Then make a papier-mâché watering can. Is your colleague a football fan? Build a miniature goal.

Sounds complicated? It can be, but a surprise doesn't have to be museum-worthy. A simple shoebox covered in crepe paper and with a fun theme is perfectly fine. It's about the effort, the fun idea, and the humor, not about perfection.

Also read: 👉 The ultimate scent for the start of the holidays

Sprinkles and other treats

What's Sinterklaas without candy? On Christmas Eve, there are bowls of typical sweets: kruidnoten (small, spicy cookies), pepernoten (ginger nuts), speculaas figures, marzipan, marshmallows, and chocolate letters. The latter are chocolate letters in the shape of your initial, a classic treat to give and receive.

Also popular: tangerines and gingerbread (a soft, sweet anise-flavored cookie). Place everything in bowls on the table and let everyone help themselves. That's how it should be.

Practical tips for a relaxing evening

Now that we've got the traditions sorted, here are some tips to make sure Christmas Eve goes smoothly:

• Food : Keep it simple. No one wants to spend hours in the kitchen. Make a pot of soup or stew beforehand, serve it early, and it's ready. The rest of the evening is for gifts and socializing.
• Atmosphere : candles lit, high beams off. Put on a Sinterklaas playlist (yes, they exist) and let it play softly. Instant coziness.
• Wrapping : less is more. Kraft paper with a pretty ribbon is stylish and simple. Or use old newspapers and magazines – sustainable and original.
• Poems : short is fine. Four lines is fine. Better a short joke than a long, forced story.
• Timing : Distribute the gifts. Open them one at a time, so everyone gets a chance to pay attention. This prevents chaos and makes it more enjoyable.

Why Sinterklaas is so special

What makes this tradition unique? The personal touch. The poems, the inside jokes, the homemade surprises—it's all about caring for each other. In a world of online ordering and delivery, Sinterklaas is a time to truly reflect on the people around you.

Whether you're celebrating Sinterklaas for the first time or have been doing it for years, it doesn't have to be perfect. It can just be simple and cozy. And with some pepernoten (ginger nuts) within reach, that's perfectly fine. Happy Sinterklaas!

💛 Looking for unique gifts from local businesses? Check out our Happy Holiday Gift Guide for inspiration.