Arrival of Sinterklaas
Intocht van Sinterklaas
Like a Dream, Sinterklaas Arrives by Steamboat
About Arrival of Sinterklaas
The Arrival of Sinterklaas feels like stepping sideways into a parallel Christmas, one where Santa sails in by steamboat from Spain, wears a bishop’s mitre, and rides a regal white horse through the streets of Dutch towns. Celebrated exactly 39 days before December 25, this tradition offers a glimpse into the roots of our own Santa stories, replete with pageantry and a distinctly Dutch sense of tradition. Children polish their shoes and set out carrots for the horse, hoping to wake to the rustle of sweets being tucked inside: spiced cookies, marzipan, and chocolate initials. It’s a holiday that blends folklore with ceremony and reminds us how beautiful and diverse Christmas traditions can be. (It also reminds us that something isn’t right with marzipan.)
Ways to observe
(A) Low effort
Leave a carrot in your shoe before bed. When you wake up, replace it with some candy or a small gift (or hope someone else does).
(B) Recommended
Celebrate Dutch culture by incorporating their Christmas traditions into your day. Start by watching a livestream or recording of Sinterklaas’s arrival. Then, bake or buy speculaas (spiced cookies) and hand out pomegranates to friends.
(C) High effort
Recreate the Arrival of Sinterklaas at home. Dress up as Sinterklaas and his companions and surprise children or friends by handing out treats and small gifts. Serve Dutch holiday snacks like pepernoten (spiced cookies) and play Sinterklaas songs in the background.
Inspiration
Of all the early celebrations in the Christmas orbit, the arrival of Sinterklaas may be the most bewildering to the American holiday calendar. It’s November 16. Thanksgiving is still days away. And yet, here you are, waking up at 6:00 AM (or 3:00 AM, if you live on the West Coast) to watch a Dutch bishop arrive by steamboat, disembark in a medieval harbor town, and parade through the streets on a white horse while children scream with joy. Sinterklaas is rooted in centuries of tradition. His story begins with Saint Nicholas of Myra, a 4th-century bishop known for secret gifts, child-saving miracles, and an all-around commitment to benevolent meddling. Dutch tradition imagined him as a regal figure in red robes, accompanied by his white horse and a rotating entourage of helpers. His annual arrival by steamboat from Spain (a nod to old trade routes) symbolizes not just gifts, but the return of something magical. Watching it live feels less like a Christmas special and more like catching a late-night broadcast of Star Trek when you’re 12 and can’t sleep. The lighting is weird. The pacing is off. Everyone’s speaking in a clearly made-up language. A bishop on a boat is waving solemnly while children chant in unison. You're too groggy to ask why any of this is happening, and too delighted to care.
Adornments
Watch
Sinterklaas Intocht (livestream)
Each November, the Dutch public broadcaster airs the official arrival of Sinterklaas, a national event featuring a steamboat docking ceremony, marching bands, and local children singing in coordinated scarves. Towns rotate hosting duties each year, and the production includes live interviews with actors playing helpers, concerned mayors, and nervous weather officials.
Listen
Zie Ginds Komt de Stoomboot (traditional)
This classic Sinterklaas tune translates to “See, the Steamboat Comes from Far Away,” and it’s hard not to grin as the kids’ choir belts out this maritime jingle of holiday anticipation.
Sinterklaasje Kom Maar Binnen (traditional)
A welcoming, celebratory song traditionally sung by children inviting Sinterklaas into their homes. Think of it as the Dutch equivalent of caroling for candy.
Wat Zit Er In Mijn Schoentje? (traditional)
A playful, lesser-known song about discovering gifts in your shoe. Perfect for background ambiance while sneaking chocolate coins into your family’s boots.
Read
The Legend of St. Nicholas by Demi
This illustrated biography of the historical St. Nicholas traces his life as a 4th-century bishop in Myra. Demi’s gold-accented illustrations emphasize the saint’s acts of secret generosity.
Eat
Pepernoten
Small, spiced cookie bites made with rye flour and warming spices like anise and cinnamon. These are often tossed into crowds by Sinterklaas’s helpers or found scattered near shoes.
Speculaas
Flat, pressed cookies flavored with a blend of clove, nutmeg, and cardamom. Traditionally shaped using carved wooden molds that imprint ships, windmills, or animals.
Share
Shoe Surprises
Leave a small shoe—or a paper-cut version—outside a neighbor’s door or on a coworker’s desk. Fill it with modest tokens: foil-wrapped chocolate coins, clementines, tiny toys, or a handwritten poem. If you're feeling traditional, include a carrot for the horse.