. . . in the Netherlands
On a Saturday between November 12th and 18th, Sinterklaas comes by ship from Spain to officially enter the country. Each year he arrives at a different seacoast town or river harbor. Large crowds gather to greet the good saint, who arrives accompanied by many colorful Piets. Dutch National Television broadcasts the festivities so the entire country may share the celebration. This is the official start of Sinterklaas season. Sinterklaas arrives in Amsterdam the next day, Sunday. He then spends the weeks until 5 December (the Eve of Sinterklaas) going about the countryside, visiting homes, schools, and churches, to determine if the children have been good.
In 2012 the official entry will be Saturday, November 17, in Roermond.
 Dordrecht 2011 Photo: dtgerald, Zoom.nl |
 Harderwijk 2010 Photo: HvNL |
 Schiedam 2009 Photo: J Rosenthal/SNS Used by permission |
 Almere 2008 Photo: Kenneth Verburg, Flickr Used by permission Click for more photos |
 Kampen 2007 Photo: Sinterklaas Web Journal |
 Middelburg 2006 Photo: Stitching Vrienden van Sint Nicolaas Used by permission |
|
|
 Alkmaar 2004 Photo: Stitching Vrienden van Sint Nicolaas Used by permission |
 Zwolle 2003 Photo: Stitching Vrienden van Sint Nicolaas Used by permission |
 Zaltbommel 2002 Photo: Stitching Vrienden van Sint Nicolaas Used by permission |
|
|
The national official Sinterklaas arrival was first televised in 1964 from Hoorn, shown in this black and white NPS video clip
Official entry photos courtesy of Sint Nicolaas Foto Gallerij, Stichting Vrienden van Sint Nicolaas in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands. Used by permission.
back to top