St Nicholas' Day 2024 in the Netherlands

December 5 and 6 are Sinterklaas/St. Nicholas’ Eve and Day in the Netherlands, when Saint Nicholas, also known as Sinterklaas, visits children and brings them presents. In the Netherlands, the main celebrations take place on December 5, rather than December 6.

Is St Nicholas' Day a Public Holiday?

St Nicholas' Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.

Celebrate Saint Nicholas’ Day

Sinterklaas celebrations in the Netherlands take place on December 5 and usually wind down on December 6, when St. Nicholas departs. In some places, St. Nicholas may still make a public appearances with his helper, Piet. Children are visited in schools, hospitals, and shopping centers. Many shops are filled with Sinterklaas trinkets, decorations, gifts, and toys. Special songs are sung to honor St. Nicholas.

Public Life

St. Nicholas’ Day is not an official public holiday in the Netherlands. However, many businesses dedicated to Sinterklaas are busy during this time of the year.

About Saint Nicholas’ Day

The day commemorates the life of St. Nicholas, a Christian saint who is popular among children because of his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The legendary figure of St. Nicholas is derived from Nicholas of Myra who officiated as a bishop in 4th century Greece.

About St Nicholas' Day in Other Countries

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.