While it may seem similar to what you know, Christmas is not about Santa Claus and reindeer in the Netherlands. In fact, the Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas Day, the tradition that started Santa Claus in the first place) on December 5, and it is this day that Dutch children get really excited about. They also receive most of their presents on Sinterklaas.
Cosy atmosphere
This means that Christmas is really about the ambiance. People buy Christmas trees, and decorate them with kerstkransjes (Christmas wreath cookies), glass balls, gilded nuts, ribbons, glittery pine cones, frosted bells, and red and white candles. Many people place beautiful Advent star lights in their windows.
The main square of every city has its own brightly lit Christmas tree. Twinkly lights shaped like bells and stars, and garlands are strung over many of the charming old streets, adding instant Christmas cheer during the darkest days of the year. Department stores are beautifully decked out in red, white, green, silver and gold decorations. Christmas carillon music is played and you will find many old-fashioned stalls selling donuts and other fried seasonal favorites like oliebollen and appelflappen on the street. Flower sellers offer beautifully made wreaths, red and white poinsettias, holly, mistletoe, and decorated pine cones.
Family holiday
Christmas is family time, although the hyper-hysteric commercial style of Christmas that is found in so many other Christian countries is gaining ground here too, unfortunately. Rather confusingly, Santa Claus (called de Kerstman) is also trying to edge his way into Dutch Christmas. Of course, kids are only too happy to accept two gift-giving Santas, if it means more presents for them.
Families spend the day together on the 25th. Some attend a late night Christmas service at church, after which they eat breakfast at home, often in the early hours. In an increasingly irreligious Holland, however, most people just relax at home and eat themselves silly. Breakfast usually consists of a brunch with a kerststol (fruited Christmas loaf) with butter, and luxury breakfast items like smoked salmon, pates, fancy bread rolls, etc.
Many families eat course after lavish course for their Christmas dinner. These meals could include game meats, roast pork, fondues or gourmetten (a style of eating that involves a grill on the table so that everyone can cook bite-sized pieces of meat and vegetables themselves). Turkey is not part of the feast in Holland. Second Christmas Day is often spent visiting family or, weather permitting, going ice skating or on an outing. Leftovers are enjoyed on this day.
Typical Dutch Christmas treats include:
- Kerstkransjes (Christmas wreath cookies)
- Kerststol (fruited Christmas loaf)
- Kerstkrans (a wreath shaped pastry decorated with glace fruits and filled with sweet almond paste)
- Banketstaaf or banketletters (pastry logs or letters filled with sweet almond paste)
- Jan Hagel cookies (a fragrant and flaky Christmas cookie)
- Speculaas (spiced cookies)
- Marzipan
- Advocaat
Merry Christmas, or as the Dutch say, Vrolijk Kerstfeest.
