In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas is known as Sinter Klaas. Dutch children are told that he sails from Spain on his feast day, December 5. They fill their shoes with hay and sugar for his horse the night before his coming and awake to find their footwear filled with nuts and candy. Sinter Klaas simultaneously arrives at every city or village in the Netherlands. Suspicious children who understand the impossibility of simultaneous sightings of Sinter Klaas discover that this grand event unfolds with the help of hulp-Sinterklazen, people who help Sinter Klaas by dressing up like him. Sinter Klaas tours the villages accompanied by another helper, Zwarte Pieten or Black Pete, who hands out sweets to the children. Sometimes Sinter Klaas appears in person in the children's homes. He questions the them about their behavior during the past year.

The people of Twente, east Holland, carry out an Advent ceremony in which special horns are blown to chase away evil spirits and announce the birth of Christ. Most horns are homemade, carved out of one-year-old saplings, and are three- to four-foot long.

Interesting Facts:
National name: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

The Netherlands lies on the North Sea coast, part of the great plain of northwest Europe. It is twice the size of New Jersey. Land mass of 16,033 square miles (41,526 sq km). About half the country's area is below sea level, making the famous Dutch dikes a requisite for the use of the land.

The population of the Netherlands is 16,318,199, 2004 estimate.

The capital and largest city is Amsterdam.

The flag was adopted on the 19th of February, 1937. The Dutch tri-color flag was first used in the second half of the 16th century when the Dutch provinces revolted against Spain. Their leader was Prince William of Orange. The flag was named Prinsenvlag ("Princeflag") after him. At first the flag was orange-white-blue, but later the orange stripe became red.

The Netherlands' Santa is also known as St. Nicholas. He wears a Bishop's robe and miter like the true St. Nicholas. The story of St. Nicholas says that when he was young, his wealthy parents died. He heard a calling from God and used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made the Bishop of Myrna while still a young man. He became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for ships and sailors.

He walks on cobblestone, reminiscent of the olden-time streets of Amsterdam, the Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Eindhoven.

His basket carries the Black Peter doll, plus clogs that represent the children who polish and set their shoes out on Christmas Eve for Santa to fill with goodies. There is also a boat, which represents the waterways and the arrival of St. Nicholas.

Netherlands Pipka Santas World of Santas The Dutch celebrate the coming of Sinterklaas Avond or St. Nicholas, whose generosity and kindness are well known, on December 5th, St. Nicholas' traditional birthday. Then on December 6th they celebr
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