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Tag Archives: Sinterklaas

How Do You Make A Dutch Surprise for Sinterklaas? – Part 2 Posted by on Nov 30, 2021

Sinterklaas is back in the country. Yesterday, it was time to get your arts and crafts skills out to make surprises. Now we need the more intellectual, brainy side of you – we have to write a gedicht (poem). This is part 2 for the ultimate surprise for pakjesavond (“gift evening”) on December 5! Let’s dive in!…

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How Do You Make A Dutch Surprise for Sinterklaas? – Part 1 Posted by on Nov 29, 2021

Surprise Sinterklaas Christmas Pakjesavond Gifts Cadeau voetbal

Sinterklaas is back in the country. Get your schaar (scissors), papier (paper) and lijm (glue), because it’s time to make surprises. Together with a great little gedicht (poem), you’re – I mean, Sinterklaas is – sure to make the most impressive gift! How does this process work? And how to create the ultimate surprise for pakjesavond (“gift evening”) on December 5? This is…

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How Did Sinterklaas Arrive in The Netherlands During COVID? Posted by on Nov 23, 2020

One of the most cherished Dutch traditions, the Sinterklaasfeest (St. Nicholas celebration) is a cultural beacon in the Netherlands. With his arrival on his stoomboot (steamboat) from Spanje (Spain) every year in November to his mysterious delivery of the pakjes (“little packages”, gifts) for the big night of opening them on pakjesavond (“little packages evening”) on December 5 to the abundance of cavity-inducing…

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Spreekwoorden en Uitdrukkingen (Sayings and Expressions) 13 – Sinterklaas! Posted by on Dec 5, 2019

It’s December. A month full of long hours at work to meet that early end-of-the-month deadline, sitting in traffic on the way home in the dark, and trying to stay warm despite blazing up the fireplace. But it is also a month of coming together with friends and family, reminiscing the year past and looking…

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Chocoladeletters – Letters of Chocolate for Sinterklaas! Posted by on Dec 5, 2017

‘T heerlijk avondje is gekomen (The wonderful evening has come)! It is December 5, the day on which Sinterklaas and his helpers, the Pieten distribute the presents they wrapped for all the Dutch. But there is more than just gifts: A lot of snoepgoed (sweets)! Today, we will look at a particular one: Chocoladeletters (Chocolate letters). Bread Letters Nowadays, these yummy…

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Sinterklaas is back! 3 Things You Gotta Know Posted by on Nov 14, 2016

Sinterklaas is weer in het land! On December 5, Sinterklaas brings them presents with his pieten. He arrives around a month before the feest (celebration), actually. Who? What? Why? Just read on – all you need to know about Sinterklaas right here! 1. Sinterklaas is Dutch children’s Christmas Sinterklaas is in many ways like Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas…

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Zwarte Piet – Black Pete, still there? Posted by on Nov 15, 2014

Sinterklaas, wie kent hem niet? Sinterklaas, Sinterklaas, en natuurlijk zwarte piet!  This is how a kinderliedje goes that is sung around Sinterklaas time. See it here: Natuurlijk zwarte piet. Of course! He is part of the Dutch Sinterklaasfeest and annual tradition like nothing else. White Dutch people paint themselves black and dress up as zwarte piet, the kind and nice helper of Sinterklaas. They…

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