When does Sinterklaas arrive in the Netherlands in 2026? On Saturday, 14 November 2026, in the historic town of Grave, in the Land van Cuijk region of North Brabant. The Amsterdam parade follows on Sunday, 15 November 2026, and pakjesavond (presents evening) is on Saturday, 5 December 2026.
Last updated: 2 November 2026 by Anastasia Dudina
In this guide
The Netherlands are famous for their events which can be described as «only in Holland». King’s Day, the Keukenhof gardens. And, of course, the winter holiday of Sinterklaas. It’s celebrated annually on the 5th of December. But the whole festive story starts earlier in November.
Who is Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas)?
He looks like Santa Claus or Father Christmas, but he’s a totally different person. According to the legend, he lives in Spain, and comes to the Netherlands to give presents and little treats to the children.
Sinterklaas doesn’t come alone. He arrives with his white horse Amerigo and a team of the Zwarte Pieten, who have probably been stuck in a chimney for a while.
Arrival of Sinterklaas (intocht)
Every year Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands by boat. Thousands of people come to meet and greet him. The day after Sinterklaas’ arrival traditional colourful parades are organized in many cities throughout the Netherlands.
Sinterklaas 2026: key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Wed 7 Oct 2026 | Bol's Grote Speelgoedboek (toy catalog) starts arriving in mailboxes |
| Sat 14 Nov 2026 | National arrival (landelijke intocht) of Sinterklaas in Grave, North Brabant |
| Sun 15 Nov 2026 | Sinterklaas parade in Amsterdam (88th edition) |
| 14 Nov to 5 Dec | Children put out their shoe in the evening (schoenzetten) |
| Mon 16 Nov 2026 | Winter Efteling opens |
| Thu 26 Nov 2026 | Amsterdam Light Festival starts (until 17 January 2027) |
| Sat 5 Dec 2026 | Pakjesavond (Sinterklaasavond): presents evening |
| Sun 6 Dec 2026 | Saint Nicholas Day (Sint-Nicolaas), Sinterklaas' feast day |
National arrival in Grave: 14 November 2026
In 2026, Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands on Saturday, 14 November 2026. The place of the official national arrival (landelijke intocht) this year is Grave, a fortified town on the Maas river in the Land van Cuijk region of North Brabant.
Wanneer komt Sinterklaas in het land in 2026?
In het kort, voor wie in het Nederlands zoekt: de landelijke intocht van Sinterklaas 2026 is op zaterdag 14 november 2026 in Grave (Land van Cuijk, Noord-Brabant). De intocht in Amsterdam is op zondag 15 november 2026. Pakjesavond valt dit jaar op zaterdag 5 december 2026.
Amsterdam parade: 15 November 2026
Many municipalities will also organize local Sinterklaas parade events. In Amsterdam, the 2026 Sinterklaas parade will take place on Sunday, 15 November 2026, its 88th edition. Check the Sinterklaas arrival routes (water route and land) in Amsterdam here >>
A few weeks later, on Saturday 5 December 2026, the kids of the Netherlands will get their presents from Sinterklaas. Holiday season is just around the corner!
Planning a family trip in Sinterklaas season? Winter Efteling opens on 16 November 2026, two days after Sinterklaas arrives in Grave, also in North Brabant. Read our Efteling guide, based on our own visit with the kids, and compare the Efteling hotels if you want to stay the night.
How is Sinterklaas celebrated in the Netherlands?
…and some words in Dutch you might need to learn before the celebration:
- Intocht: Sinterklaas’ arrival by boat
- Pakjesavond: presents evening, 5 December
- Schoenzetten: putting out your shoe
- Schoencadeautje: a small shoe gift
- Surprise: a creative, handmade gift wrapping
- Gedicht: a teasing poem written for the gift recipient
Sinterklaas season runs from the intocht in mid-November to pakjesavond (presents evening) on 5 December, when Dutch families exchange gifts. Along the way, traditions vary a little from house to house, but a few customs are more or less the same: children sing traditional Sinterklaas songs, write wish lists, and take part in nightly schoenzetten.
Many children also wear special Sinterklaas outfits for the occasion.
Adults often join in too, exchanging gifts wrapped as a surprise (a creative, handmade packaging), accompanied by a teasing poem, written about the person receiving it.
Schoenzetten: what are schoenencadeaus?
From mid-November until 5 December, Dutch children take part in schoenzetten (putting out your shoe). Every evening they leave one shoe by the fireplace, front door, or radiator, often with a carrot for Sinterklaas’ horse, Amerigo.
The next morning, they find a small treat or gift, a schoencadeautje, left by Sinterklaas or one of his Zwarte Pieten. These schoenencadeaus (shoe gifts) are usually modest: some pepernoten, a mandarin, a small toy, or a chocolate letter.
Chocoladeletter & pepernoten: Sinterklaas’ classic treats
No Sinterklaas celebration is complete without a chocoladeletter (a chocolate initial letter) and a handful of pepernoten or kruidnoten. Traditionally, children get a chocoladeletter shaped like the first letter of their name on 5 December.
Bol’s Grote Speelgoedboek: the famous toy catalog
Every autumn, Dutch households are flooded with Het Grote Speelgoedboek (The Big Toy Book), bol.com’s free, full-colour toy catalog, printed in a run of around 3.5 million copies. Most families with young kids get it delivered straight to their mailbox (you can opt in or out via bol.com), with free copies also available at Albert Heijn if yours doesn’t arrive.
It typically arrives at your home in early October (in 2026 they will start sending the book on 7 October 2026). And once it’s home, kids traditionally circle every toy they want with a pen, or scan the QR code next to each item in the bol.com app to build a digital wish list that’s sent straight to their parents.
Photo: we received our Grote Speelgoedboek from Bol by post on 7 October 2026
Sinterklaas gift ideas
Bigger Sinterklaas presents are usually given on the evening of 5 December (pakjesavond). Usually parents ask a neighbour to ring the doorbell, children open the door and discover a traditional jute bag (jute zakken) full of presents.
- Sinterklaas book by Charlotte Dematons
- Addition to the Brio train collection
- Smartmax or Magna tiles magnetic toys
- LEGO Super Mario
- L.O.L. Surprise! dolls and accessories
Amsterdam Light Festival 2026/2027
If you’re visiting the Netherlands during Sinterklaas season, it’s also worth planning around the Amsterdam Light Festival, which runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027 this year, its 15th edition. It opens 12 days after Sinterklaas arrives, so a late November or early December trip lets you see both the shoe-and-chocolate-letter season and the light art on the canals. Book tickets >>
Make it a winter evening out: the Museumplein ice rink is open until 16 January 2027, and if you’d rather see the canals by day, compare all Amsterdam canal cruise tickets.
Sinterklaas is on his way!
Come to the Netherlands and experience it yourself!
Sinterklaas 2026: frequently asked questions
When does Sinterklaas arrive in the Netherlands in 2026?
Sinterklaas arrives on Saturday, 14 November 2026. The national arrival (landelijke intocht) takes place in Grave, a fortified town on the Maas river in North Brabant.
When is the Sinterklaas parade in Amsterdam in 2026?
The Amsterdam Sinterklaas parade is on Sunday, 15 November 2026, the day after the national arrival. It is the 88th edition; check the water and land routes on sintinamsterdam.nl.
When is Sinterklaas (pakjesavond) in 2026?
Pakjesavond, also called Sinterklaasavond, is the evening of Saturday, 5 December 2026, when families exchange the bigger presents. The next day, Sunday 6 December, is Saint Nicholas Day.
Is Sinterklaas the same as Santa Claus?
No. He looks a bit like Santa Claus, but Sinterklaas is a different figure: according to the legend he lives in Spain, arrives by boat in November with his white horse Amerigo and his Zwarte Pieten, and brings presents on 5 December, not at Christmas.
What is schoenzetten?
From the arrival in mid-November until 5 December, children leave one shoe by the fireplace, front door or radiator in the evening, often with a carrot for Amerigo. The next morning they find a small schoencadeautje, such as pepernoten, a mandarin or a chocolate letter.
Wanneer komt Sinterklaas aan in Nederland in 2026?
De landelijke intocht van Sinterklaas is op zaterdag 14 november 2026 in Grave (Noord-Brabant). In Amsterdam is de intocht op zondag 15 november 2026.
What else is on in the Netherlands during Sinterklaas season?
Winter Efteling opens on 16 November 2026, the Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, and the Museumplein ice rink is open until 16 January 2027. See our Amsterdam Light Festival guide and Christmas markets in the Netherlands.
Related articles:
- Advent calendars 2026: for kids and adults
- Amsterdam Light Festival 2026/2027
- Christmas markets in the Netherlands
- Christmas presents: ideas and inspiration
- Museumplein ice rink 2026/2027
- Efteling guide: Winter Efteling with kids
About the Author
Written by a local
Anastasia Dudina
I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2013 and exploring it ever since. I write and update all articles on Holland Explorer and Amsterdam Explorer myself: real tips, not tourist traps. All of them are kept regularly updated, and if you find this guide helpful, sharing it is the best way to support the project.