In the Netherlands (or Holland), Santa Claus doesn't visit as he does in other parts of the world. His cousin, Sinterklaas, brings presents on December 5th. He has helpers named Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) who have gotten dirty by crawling through the chimneys bringing gifts to children. Sinterklaus wears a red bishop´s hat, a red bishop´s cloak and has white hair and a white beard.
Children put their shoes close to the fireplace before they go to bed and also set out some hay and water and sometimes a carrot for the horse. In the night, while the children sleep, Sinterklaas places gifts such as chocolate coins, poems about themselves and other little presents in their shoes.

On the eve of December 5th, the families often celebrate Sinterklaas with each other. Usually, the grandparents have the whole family over and then Sinterklaas comes to their house. While everybody sits in the living room and sings songs, you hear a knock on the door. When the children rush to the door to open it, they see a basket full of presents! And then the fun starts! Traditional Dutch Sinterklaas candy includes speculaas, marsepein and pepernoten.

Christmas is also celebrated on the 25th and 26th of December. On Christmas Eve people have dinner together and afterwards go to evening church services. Christmas Day is a family day with quality time spent both at church and at home. The day after Christmas is sometimes spent visiting and celebrating with other family members.

Although they are beginning to celebrate 25th Dec more, they really put their energy into Dec 5th. This is when SinterKlaus and Zwart Piet leave Holland to go back to Spain.

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