What is Sinterklaas, and what will I notice as an American visitor in November and December 2026?
Sinterklaas, Saint Nicholas, is the Netherlands' biggest children's holiday. He "arrives from Spain" by steamboat in mid November, nationally in Grave on Saturday, November 14, and in Amsterdam on Sunday, November 15, 2026, and the season ends on pakjesavond, the evening of December 5, a Saturday this year, when families exchange gifts and teasing poems at home. Sinterklaas is the basis of the North American Santa Claus, and after December 5 the decorations switch to Christmas.
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Fixed prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km in the Sinterklaas season | €50 | fixed at booking, detours included · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km in the Sinterklaas season | €70 | fixed at booking, detours included · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km in the Sinterklaas season | €90 | fixed at booking, detours included · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
Rides inside Amsterdam up to 10 km have a fixed price per car (€50 in Business Class); a detour around closures does not change it. Longer rides are priced per kilometer and shown before you book. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
The season in 2026
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sat Nov 14 | National arrival in Grave, broadcast on television |
| Sun Nov 15 | Arrival in Amsterdam by boat on the Amstel |
| Late November | Children put out a shoe at night for small treats |
| Sat Dec 5 | Pakjesavond: gifts and poems at home |
| Sun Dec 6 | Saint Nicholas Day; the Christmas season takes over |
What to taste
Pepernoten and kruidnoten (small spiced cookies), chocolate letters with the first letter of a name, speculaas (spiced biscuits, sometimes filled with almond paste) and the banketletter, a pastry filled with almond paste.
What it means for your trip
- The evening of December 5 is a family evening at home, so restaurants can be quieter.
- Shops are busy on the Saturdays before December 5.
- In Amsterdam, the arrival day closes streets on the parade route; see the road closures page.
Related questions
Is Sinterklaas a public holiday?
No. December 5 is not an official holiday; this year it falls on a Saturday.
Can tourists watch the arrival?
Yes, it is free; see road closures and times.
What does Sinterklaas ride?
A white horse, through the city on parade day.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Sinterklaas (checked October 20, 2026)
- Hart van Nederland: national arrival 2026 in Grave (Dutch) (checked October 20, 2026)
- Sint in Amsterdam: route and times (Dutch) (checked October 20, 2026)
- Rijksoverheid, official public holidays in the Netherlands, including Christmas on December 25 and 26 (checked September 29, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.