Christmas in the Netherlands

Welcome to the Dutch Christmas season, where many things are different and some things are also very familiar. The festive season in the Netherlands begins in mid-November with the arrival of Sinterklaas. On the Saturday after St. Martin's Day - this year on November 18 - he arrives in the Netherlands by ship from Spain. During his stay until December 6, St. Nicholas Day, he distributes small gifts to the children in their shoes every day. The actual gift-giving takes place on the evening before his departure, on December 5, the so-called Pakjesavond. Only then are the Christmas trees put up and people wish each other Vrolijk kerstfeest! - Merry Christmas!

The exhibition provides surprising insights into the Dutch Christmas season and brings the festivities to life from different perspectives. The Kindermuseum offers a varied program of activities around the exhibition. School classes can take part in a guided tour and then decorate a chocolate letter in the Christmas bakery.

The Children's Museum offers a varied program of activities around the Christmas exhibition:

November 18 to December 24, 2023

Where are the clogs hiding?

Search competition through the exhibition during the Advent season

November 18/19, 2023

Design your own Advent calendar

We will paint an Advent calendar and be surprised when we open the doors.

November 25/26, 2023

A steamboat for Sinterklaas

We use simple materials to create an imaginative steamboat for his safe passage.

November 30, 2023, 8 p.m.

Legendary stories from the Netherlands

Storytelling evening for adults, with music and drinks

December 2/3, 2023

Decorating chocolate letters

We decorate a "Sinterklaas letter".

December 6, 2023, 4 and 4.30 p.m.

Fairy tales in the museum - Christmas in the Netherlands

Winter visit from Sinterklaas

December 10, 2023, 11 a.m.

Christmas carol singing in the museum

The children's choir sings Christmas carols, accompanied by the sounds of flutes and harps.

December 17, 2023, 11 a.m.

"Benni, the rascal"

In collaboration with Kino Orient, the Children's Museum shows the Dutch Christmas movie.

Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.