DUTCH CELEBRATIONS

11TH OF NOVEMBER - SINT MAARTEN

During this holiday, all the children make or buy a lantern and take this with them door to door. Instead of trick or treating, they sing Sint Maarten songs, and they are rewarded with sweets.

A typical Sint Maarten song:

Sint Maarten, Sint Maarten de koeien hebben staarten de meisjes hebben rokjes aan daar komt Sinte Maarten aan.

Translation:

Sint Maarten, Sint Maarten the cows have tails

The girls wear skirts

Sint Maarten is coming over there

5TH OF DECEMBER - SINTERKLAAS

Every year, Sinterklaas comes to the Netherlands to give presents to kids. In the weeks before this day, the kids sing songs and put a carrot in their shoe for Sinterklaas’ horse in the evening. When the children wake up they might have got something in their shoe, like a little present or candy and pepernoten.

Adults often play ‘secret Santa’ and buy a present, write a poem or sometimes even make a kind of artwork for someone. Lastly, this holiday is marked because there are many snacks. Snacks that are common to eat during Sinterklaas are chocolate letters, pepernoten, chocolate coins.

27TH OF FEBRUARY UNTIL 11TH OF MARCH - CARNAVAL

The Southern areas in the Netherlands used to celebrate Carnaval just before Lent, the 40 days before Easter. Nowadays, Carnaval is also known as a time to party for many people. Depending on which city you go to, there are rules on how to dress. For example, in Den Bosch you need to wear the typical scarf and jacket. In other cities you can wear, for example, an animal onesie or any other creative outfit.