If you live in the Netherlands, November and early December belong to Sinterklaas. It is not Christmas and he is not Santa: it is a Dutch feast of its own, with its own words. Here are the ones you will hear at work, at school and at home.
The key dates
- De intocht: in mid November Sinterklaas arrives by stoomboot, officially from Spain, and towns hold their own arrival parade.
- Pakjesavond, 5 December: the evening of presents, the big night.
- 6 December: the feast of Saint Nicholas. After that, the focus moves to Christmas.
15 Sinterklaas words
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Sinterklaas, de Sint | Saint Nicholas |
| de goedheiligman | the good holy man, a nickname for Sinterklaas |
| de Pieten | his helpers |
| het paard | the horse he rides over the rooftops |
| de stoomboot | the steamboat he arrives on |
| de intocht | the arrival parade |
| je schoen zetten | to put out your shoe for a small present |
| de wortel | the carrot, left in the shoe for the horse |
| pepernoten | small spiced Sinterklaas treats; the name is also used for kruidnoten, the crunchy round ones |
| de chocoladeletter | the chocolate letter, usually your initial |
| de speculaas | spiced biscuit |
| pakjesavond | present evening, 5 December |
| lootjes trekken | drawing names, like Secret Santa |
| de surprise | a homemade, disguised present |
| het gedicht | the rhyming poem that comes with it |
How adults celebrate: lootjes, surprises and poems
Many families, friend groups and offices trekken lootjes: everyone draws a name and buys a present for that person. The present comes wrapped in a surprise, a creative homemade disguise, together with a gedicht: a rhyming poem, signed by Sint, that gently teases the receiver. Reading it out loud is part of the fun.
Useful phrases
- Heb je al een lootje getrokken? Have you drawn a name yet?
- Wie heb jij? Who did you get?
- Ik moet mijn gedicht nog schrijven. I still have to write my poem.
- Wat heb je gekregen? What did you get?
- Dank je wel, Sinterklaas! Thank you, Sinterklaas!
A well known Sinterklaas song
Sinterklaas kapoentje, gooi wat in mijn schoentje, gooi wat in mijn laarsje, dank u Sinterklaasje. Roughly: Sinterklaas, throw something in my little shoe, throw something in my little boot, thank you, dear Sinterklaas. Notice all the diminutives: schoentje, laarsje, Sinterklaasje.
Want to practise these words in real sentences, with someone who answers back? Try our Dutch WhatsApp Buddy, or take the free Dutch level test to see where you stand.