Learn Dutch: Sinterklaas

National arrival of Sinterklaas

OUDESCHILD - Sinterklaas arrives at the harbor by steamboat. Over 40 years ago, Sinterklaas last set foot on a Wadden Island. He arrived on Terschelling in 1984. Source: AAP / Michael Nigro / ANP/Sander Koning/ANP/Sipa USA/AAP IMAGE

This Learn Dutch episode is dedicated to the biggest children's party of the year in the Netherlands: Sinterklaas. Joyce Diebels from Dutch with Joyce discusses useful words and sentences so you can celebrate pakjesavond.


Words and sentences about Sinterklaas:

EnglishDutch
Saint NicolasSinterklaas / de Sint / Sint Nicolaas
the evening when Sinterklaas brings his presents (like Christmas even), traditionally on 5 December.Sinterklaasavond OF pakjesavond
the names of the helpers of SinterklaasPieten
steam boat(de) stoomboot
shoeschoen
fire placeopenhaard
"putting your shoe" in front of the fire place or doorschoenzetten
songs you sing for / to SinterklaasSinterklaasliedjes
small round spiced biscuits you only eat around Sinterklaaskruidnoten OF pepernoten
chocolate letterchocolade letter
Sinterklaas paradeSinterklaas optocht
I get a chocolate letter from Sinterklaas.Ik krijg een chocolade letter van Sinterklaas
traditional way to say goodbye to SinterklaasDag Sinterklaasje

Would you like to watch Het Sinterklaasjournaal? Click here.

Do you want to get ready for the Sinterklaas celebrations? You can practise some well-known Sinterklaas songs here.


Share

Follow SBS Dutch

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS News in Dutch

Watch it onDemand

Watch now