Sinterklaas: How to celebrate it abroad?
December is approaching, and for Dutch expats, that means one thing: Sinterklaas! This beloved tradition, celebrated annually on December 5th, is all about traditions, gifts, poems, and of course, delicious treats like pepper nuts and chocolate letters. But how do you keep these traditions alive when living abroad? Don’t worry! In this guide, we share tips, ideas, and information so you can celebrate Sinterklaas just like in the Netherlands.
Buy Sinterklaas treats from Mr. Dutch Food
Miss Sinterklaas and all the associated traditions? You don’t have to miss out, even if you’re living abroad! From making your own pepper nuts to ordering your favorite Sinterklaas products through Mr. Dutch Food, you can keep the traditions alive and make it an unforgettable time.
You can order all types of Sinterklaas items, as well as other Dutch products, through Mr. Dutch Food. The selection is huge. You choose the products on the website of the Dutch store(s). We will pick up the products from the chosen store(s) and carefully ship them to you, anywhere in the EU.
How to order?
- Go to the website of the Dutch store where you want to buy Sinterklaas products. You can find them at Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, and the organic supermarket Ekoplaza.
- Fill the shopping cart on that website with your favorite frozen snacks and other groceries of your choice.
- Share your shopping cart with us via the order form on the order page.
- (How to fill out the order form can be found under the heading "Order Instructions." There are tutorial videos to make it as easy as possible for you.)
- After submitting the order form with your shared shopping cart, you will receive a quote from us.
- If you agree, you can pay via the payment link provided.
- We will go to the store to buy the Sinterklaas treats and other products for you.
- We will carefully package your groceries and send them to your address in the EU!
Mr. Dutch Food supplies Dutch products to individuals and businesses. For larger quantities, you can also contact us. We offer bulk packaging from wholesale stores like Sligro and Makro. Contact us.
2 Sinterklaas offers at Mr. Dutch Food
🍬 Win a Sinterklaas treats box!
We have a giveaway all October long on Facebook! We want to make someone living outside the Netherlands in the EU happy with a fantastic Sinterklaas package full of treats!
🍬 Discount at Mr. Dutch Food!
Don’t want to wait and see if you’ve won a Sinterklaas package, or do you want to order (also) other products? Take advantage of the great October discount on Sinterklaas products!
A short history of Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas is based on the historical figure of Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Myra (in present-day Turkey) who lived in the 3rd and 4th centuries. He was known for his generosity and helping the poor, especially children. After his death on December 6, 343, he was venerated as a saint, and his popularity spread across Europe. His feast day was celebrated with the giving of gifts and food, which eventually led to the tradition of Sinterklaas Eve on December 5 in the Netherlands.
Local traditions
Over the centuries, the religious celebrations of Saint Nicholas merged with local customs. This gave rise to the modern figure of Sinterklaas, who hands out gifts to children and is accompanied by his helpers, the Pieten. Many of the typical Sinterklaas characteristics, such as his arrival by steamboat from Spain and the tradition of placing shoes out for gifts, were introduced in the 19th century, partly through the work of Jan Schenkman.
The traditions surrounding Sinterklaas were later exported to other countries, such as the United States, where the figure of Santa Claus was created, based on Dutch and European influences. Today, Sinterklaas remains an important cultural celebration in the Netherlands, focusing on togetherness, gifts, and traditional treats like pepper nuts (“pepernoten” in Dutch) and chocolate letters.
Celebrating Sinterklaas abroad
As a Dutch expat abroad, it may seem challenging to keep the tradition of Sinterklaas alive, as it’s not widely celebrated and Sinterklaas treats like spiced gingerbread cookies (“kruidnoten”), chewy gingerbread (“taai taai”), and marzipan can be hard to find. However, with a little creativity or an order from Mr. Dutch Food, you can still make Sinterklaas an important part of your holiday season. Here are some tips:
Make or buy Sinterklaas treats
Sweets are an essential part of Sinterklaas. From pepper nuts to chocolate letters, there’s always something delicious to enjoy. Baking your own pepper nuts or spiced gingerbread cookies is a fun activity to do with friends or children. All you need is the right spice mix (speculaaskruiden), and you’re ready to go! You can order the spice mix, or ready-made spiced gingerbread cookies, pepper nuts, chocolate letters, chewy gingerbread, and all other Sinterklaas treats from Mr. Dutch Food.
"Put your shoe"
In the run-up to Sinterklaas Eve, have children place their shoes out before bed, preferably by the fireplace. Don’t forget to include a drawing for Sinterklaas or a carrot for his horse. Enjoy the excitement the next morning when your children find a small treat or present in their shoes that the Pieten have left behind!
Celebrate Sinterklaas eve
Let “Sinterklaas” buy presents and have someone deliver them on December 5th in a large burlap sack to your home, preferably with a loud knock on the windows or doors. Unwrap the gifts together, maybe with a fun swapping game, and make everyone’s Sinterklaas wishes come true! Do your (grand)children live in the Netherlands? Follow their Sinterklaas Eve celebration online through a video call so you can be a part of it, of course, with some Sinterklaas treats to enjoy!
Make ‘surprises’ and poems for adults and older children
Sinterklaas isn’t just for children; adults join in the fun too! A beloved tradition is making ‘surprises’: creative packages where gifts are hidden, often accompanied by a poem that says something funny about the recipient. Are you feeling creative? Use everyday objects from your surroundings to make an original ‘surprise.’ Think of something simple, like a cardboard box or old newspapers, and turn it into something fun. The idea is for the ‘surprise’ to be amusing, but most importantly, that the joy of making and giving takes center stage.
Some advantages of Mr. Dutch Food
Large assortiment
A large assortment of Dutch supermarkets is available for you. Around Sinterklaas time, a large assortment of Sinterklaas products is available.
Take advantage of store promotions!
Buy one, get one free at Jumbo? 50% off at Albert Heijn? Most stores have different promotions every week. Take advantage of the store promotions!
Always personal contact
You can call, email, chat or WhatsApp us for all your questions or requests. If there's an issue with your order, we'll personally contact you.
Combine orders of different stores
Do you want products from different Dutch stores or even webshops? We collect them and ship them in one box to you, so you only pay shipping costs once.
Typical Dutch Sinterklaas treats
Order your Sinterklaas sweets from Mr. Dutch Food and experience the magic of Sinterklaas, even while abroad. Think of delicious treats like:
Spiced gingerbread cookies
These small, round, crunchy cookies are called "kruidnoten" in Dutch and are made with speculaas spices. They are one of the most popular Sinterklaas treats, scattered by the Pieten during the Sinterklaas parade.
Pepper nuts
Pepper nuts have an irregular, chunky shape. Their taste and texture resemble chewy gingerbread. They are less popular than spiced gingerbread cookies, and therefore harder to find. But luckily, stores like Albert Heijn and Plus have them!
Chocolate letters
Of course, there are the chocolate letters, with everyone receiving the initial of their name. Available in milk, dark, and white chocolate, and in special variations like caramel-sea salt or hand-decorated versions from stores like Hema.
Chewy gingerbread
This is called "Taai taai" in Dutch, which litterally means "Tough tough". Chewy gingerbread is a soft, spiced cookie with a hint of anise flavor. Often baked in the shape of figures such as Sinterklaas, it has a characteristic chewy texture.
Marzipan
Marzipan is a sweet treat made from almonds and sugar, often shaped creatively like fruits, animals, or shoes during Sinterklaas. It's a true favorite for those with a sweet tooth.
Speculaas cookies
Speculaas cookies are crunchy biscuits made with speculaas spices, sometimes decorated with almonds. They are shaped like Sinterklaas or other figures. There are also large speculaas chunks that you can break into portions yourself.
Frogs and mice candies
Frogs and mice are sweet fondant candies covered with a thin layer of dark chocolate, wrapped in colorful aluminum foil.
Sinterklaas foam candies
Sinterklaas foam candies are light, sweet, and often come in different colors, usually with a mild vanilla flavor.
Varieties of kruidnoten (spiced gingerbread cookies
Nowadays, there are many types and flavors of kruidnoten available—almost too many to list! But here are a few to get your mouth watering:
Regular kruidnoten
Who doesn't know these? These are the most famous, the regular kruidnoten, like those from the brand Bolletje, available at stores like Jumbo, Plus and Albert Heijn.
Sinterklaas strooigoed (scattered treats)
Strooigoed is a mix of spiced gingerbread cookies combined with candies like foam candies, tum tum, sugar hearts, and hard candy letters. Traditionally this mix is scattered by the Pieten during Sinterklaas.
Chocolate kruidnoten
Kruidnoten coated in chocolate come in a variety of flavors. Of course, there's the classic milk, white, and dark chocolate, but also flavors like truffle, coconut, caramel, cinnamon, tiramisu, crème brûlée, and mocha!
Gluten free kruidnoten
For those with a gluten allergy or intolerance, gluten-free kruidnoten are also available, at stores like Jumbo and Albert Heijn.
Recipe for kruidnoten
Although kruidnoten are often called pepper nuts in practice, they’re not the same. Kruidnoten are round, crunchy, and crispy, while pepper nuts have an irregular shape and are chewier. Here’s a simple recipe for making your own:
Ingredients
- 250g self-raising flour
- 125g butter
- 100g brown sugar
- 2 tbsp speculaas spices
- A pinch of salt
- 4 tbsp milk
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 160°C.
- Mix the flour, sugar, spices, and salt in a bowl.
- Add the butter in cubes and knead into a crumbly dough.
- Add the milk and knead into a firm dough.
- Roll small balls of dough, flatten them slightly, and place them on a baking tray.
- Bake the kruidnoten for about 20 minutes until golden brown.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sinterklaas
From which stores can I order Sinterklaas products?
You can order Sinterklaas products from supermarkets like Jumbo, Albert Heijn, or Plus, or from the organic supermarket Ekoplaza. If you are looking for non-edible Sinterklaas items, such as costumes or decorations, you can order from stores like Hema. Click the links below to visit the stores’ websites and fill your shopping cart there. You can then share your cart with Mr. Dutch Food. Read the Order Instructions page for details on how to do this.
Buy Sinterklaas products from Jumbo
Buy Sinterklaas products from Albert Heijn
Buy Sinterklaas products from Plus
Buy Sinterklaas products from Ekoplaza
For larger quantities, you can also contact us. We offer bulk packaging from wholesale stores like Sligro and Makro. Feel free to contact us.
Can I buy Sinterklaas products with a discount?
Yes, you can! Seasonal products like these sometimes come with discounts at Dutch supermarkets. You can benefit from these discount prices through Mr. Dutch Food. Check out the Rates page to see how this works. Also, take a look at the supermarkets’ advertising brochures to see which offers are valid this or next week.
Are there gluten-free spiced gingerbread cookies (kruidnoten)?
Yes, there are gluten-free kruidnoten available, so that even people with gluten intolerance can enjoy this popular Sinterklaas treat. Gluten-free kruidnoten are made with alternative flours such as rice flour or corn flour instead of wheat flour. Gluten-free baking mixes are also available. Brands like AH, Jumbo and Consenza.
What is the difference between kruidnoten and pepernoten?
he main difference between kruidnoten and pepernoten is their shape, taste, and texture:
- Kruidnoten are hard, crunchy, and small with a round shape. They are made with speculaas spices and have a flavor similar to gingerbread. These are the most well-known and popular treats during Sinterklaas.
- Pepernoten are larger and have an irregular, square or rough shape. They are softer and chewier, with a flavor that leans more towards anise and honey, resembling taai taai (chewy gingerbread).
While they are often confused with each other, they are two clearly different types of Sinterklaas candy!
Albert Heijn Kruidnoten and Pepernoten from the Bakery
