America has Santa Claus, the elves & Rudolph.  The Netherlands has Sinterklaas, the Zwarte Pieten (Black Piets) & a horse.

In America , Santa slides into your house through the chimney, eats milk & cookies.  If you are good, he leaves you presents.  If you are bad he leaves you a lump of coal.

In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas knocks on your door.  If you are good, he gives you presents.  If you are bad, the Zwarte Pieten put you in a sack and takes you back to Spain on a steamship.

After being told about Sinterklaas & his Black Piets by some Dutch friends, I had to meet him.  So that autumn I traveled to a small Dutch town to witness his arrival and join in the welcome celebration.

Big thanks to Evert, Birgit & Evert’s family.

Tags: christmas, dutch, holland, klaas, pete, peten, sinter, zwite