Sinterklaas vs Santa Claus
Expats newly arrived in Netherlands should be aware of Sinterklaas vs Santa Claus (or Father Christmas) and are celebrated at different times.
At first glance, one might easily assume that the two legendary characters are one and the same. This is not necessarily untrue, as both are interpretations of the same historical figure… Saint Nicholas. As such, there are many similarities. But it is important to be aware of the differences and not to mistake one for the other here in Holland.
SINTERKLAAS vs SANTA CLAUS
Sinterklaas…
The feast of Saint Nicholas, the Catholic bishop who lived in the 4th century A.D., has been celebrated in various forms since the Middle Ages. The character named Sinterklaas was first mentioned in a poem in the 1700’s. However, it wasn’t until 1850 when Dutch teacher and author Jan Schenkman wrote the story book ‘Sint-Nicolaas en zijn knecht‘ that a fuller background of the ‘Sint’ began to take shape.
Sinterklaas, just like Saint Nicholas, is a bishop and patron for children. He lives in Spain but each November sets sail (by steamboat) for the Netherlands along with his helpers, the Pieten. His arrival is celebrated in grand style in cities and towns across the country.
Although Sinterklaas’ arrival is enacted in most Dutch towns on the same day each year, only one location is pre-chosen as the Sint’s national arrival and is televised throughout the Netherlands. For 2023, Sinterklaas will officially arrive in Gorinchem (South Holland).
Each night during the Sint’s stay in the Netherlands he rides his horse Ozosnel across the rooftops and leaves a small gift, usually a food item. This could be an orange, a marzipan figure, a chocolate letter or pepernoten. In return children will place a carrot for Ozosnel in a shoe and leave it their chimney or front door.
On the evening of 5 December, the night before the Feast of Saint Nicholas, the Sint makes one last visit to children’s homes to leave them a present or two. By the morning of 6 December he is back on his steamboat and headed off to Spain.
Sinterklaas Celebration in Netherlands
Sinterklaas-related promotions, foods and decorations appear in some Dutch stores as early as September and remain the key focus right through 5 December. One will find very little Christmas merchandise on display during this time.
Incredibly, by the morning of 6 December, all Sinterklaas merchandise is gone from stores, replaced with Christmas items including trees, lights and decorations. Many even feature Santa Claus, which can really cause confusion for a new expat in the Netherlands.
Santa Claus Story
The name Santa Claus first appeared in the late 1700’s in the United States, as an Anglicized version of Sinterklaas. While still being a personification of Saint Nicholas, by the early 1800’s illustrations no longer depicted him as a bishop or wearing religious clothing. He was shown as a bearded man in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. In the sleigh were gifts for children he would bring to them on Christmas morning 25 December.
By mid-century he had already taken on many of the characteristics familiar today. Santa was an older, heavy-set man with a jolly composure dressed in a red suit and lived in the North Pole. Mrs. Claus was introduced in the 1890’s and by the early 20th century, Santa had elf assistants to help him make toys in his workshop.
Santa Claus in Netherlands
The question still exists how can you have both a Sinterklaas and a Santa Claus in the Netherlands if they both represent Saint Nicholas?
The answer: change the character’s name. In this case, the Dutch don’t refer to him as Santa Claus but rather as the Kerstman (‘Christmas Man’).
Now when you see Christmas decorations in the Netherlands that has a figure that looks identical to Santa Claus, know that he is De Kerstman. Thus no conflict with Sinterklaas vs Santa Claus.
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