Celebrating the Holidays in Amsterdam
If you’re looking for something different this holiday season consider spending some time in Amsterdam and experiencing some Dutch traditions. The holidays here start early and are truly a season of celebration.Dutch Holiday Traditions
The holiday season starts mid-November by the arrival of St. Nicholas, only in the Netherlands he is called Sinterklaas. According to legend, Sinterklaas was the bishop of Myra, now Turkey. His deeds included saving his town from starvation, reviving the dead and offering gifts of dowries to poor girls. The gifts of dowries to poor girls led to the custom of Sinterklaas giving gifts to children. On the eve of December 5th children leave shoes filled with hay or a carrot for Sinterklaas’ horse named Schimmel (meaning white horse). Throughout the night, Sinterklaas visits the children’s homes while they are sleeping. If the children have been good they awake the next day to shoes filled with presents or sweets. If they’ve been bad they are taken to Spain and an unknown fate. There aren’t too many bad children these days.
Children aren’t the only ones who enjoy Dutch holiday traditions. The season is filled with tasty treats for everyone including spicy ginger cookies, sugar candy, fancy fruit slices, chocolates and rich almond marzipan. The visit from Sinterklaas sets off a celebration time when gifts are exchanged and holiday meals shared.
Around Amsterdam
Amsterdam Sinterklaas Procession
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