Key Takeaways
In one short view
- In the Netherlands (Europe), the main gift night for children is Sinterklaas on 5 December, closely linked to Saint Nicholas’ day on 6 December.
- Christmas is celebrated on 25 December and 26 December, called Eerste Kerstdag and Tweede Kerstdag, both as official holidays.
- Christmas Eve on 24 December is usually quiet and is not a national holiday.
- Many Dutch families give most presents at Sinterklaas and use Christmas mainly for meals, visits and a calm winter mood.
- A small Dutch mini-lesson with real phrases helps to read calendars and greetings without getting lost.
Story & Details
Two feasts, four important dates
Every December, life in the Netherlands (Europe) is shaped by two winter celebrations that sit a few weeks apart. The first is Sinterklaas at the start of the month. The second is Christmas at the end, spread over 25 December and 26 December. For anyone used to one single “big Christmas night” on 24 December, this Dutch rhythm can feel confusing at first.
The basic question sounds simple: what is the “real” important date for Dutch people? Is it 5 December, 6 December, 24 December, 25 December, or 26 December? The answer is that different dates play different roles.
Sinterklaas: why 5 December and 6 December both matter
Sinterklaas is the Dutch form of Saint Nicholas, a Christian bishop known for giving gifts in secret. In the old church calendar, Saint Nicholas’ day is 6 December. That date is still his official name day and explains why his feast exists at the start of December.
In daily Dutch life, however, the big family moment comes on 5 December. That evening is Sinterklaasavond or Pakjesavond, the “presents evening”. Families gather, children hear stories about Sinterklaas arriving from Spain (Europe) by steamboat and riding his white horse over the roofs, and gifts appear in sacks or in funny, creative packages. For many children, this is the main moment of excitement in the whole winter.
Over time, 5 December became the central gift night in the Netherlands (Europe), while 6 December stayed in the background as the saint’s official day. This is why some people talk about Sinterklaas as “the original Dutch Christmas”: it is older than many modern Christmas customs and fills the classic role of a winter gift-bringer.
Christmas in the Netherlands: quiet 24 December, full 25 and 26 December
After Sinterklaas, attention slowly moves to Christmas. Here Dutch customs differ from places where 24 December night is the main family celebration.
Christmas Eve, 24 December, is usually still a working day in the Netherlands (Europe). Many shops and offices are open; some close a bit early. At home, the evening is often simple: a normal meal, perhaps a church service in some families, but not the universal, very late feast that appears in many films and in some other cultures. There may be candles in the windows, yet the real holidays have not started.
Those holidays arrive on 25 December and 26 December. Both days are official Christmas holidays in the Netherlands (Europe). The Dutch names are Eerste Kerstdag for 25 December and Tweede Kerstdag for 26 December. In 2025, these fall on Thursday 25 December and Friday 26 December, and many people have both days off from work or school.
On Eerste Kerstdag, families often stay close to home. A long lunch or dinner is common, with everyone dressed a bit nicer and the house decorated. A very typical Dutch choice is gourmetten: a small electric grill on the table where each person cooks tiny pieces of meat, vegetables or pancakes in little pans. The meal is slow and social. People talk, cook, eat and repeat.
Tweede Kerstdag is more flexible. Some people visit relatives they did not see the day before. Others go for winter walks, visit large shops or garden centres, or enjoy another easy meal at home. Food from the day before may appear again, but the day is still a holiday with its own light, not only a practical “leftovers day”.
Is Dutch Christmas only an “imitation”?
From the outside, it is easy to think that Dutch Christmas on 25 December and 26 December is just a copy of what happens in other countries such as the United States (North America). Sinterklaas looks very local and old; Christmas trees, Santa images and films look global and new.
The deeper story is more balanced. The religious feast of Christmas, centred on the birth of Jesus, has deep roots in the Netherlands (Europe), just as in many other parts of Europe (Europe). Church services, special music and winter dishes grew over many centuries. At the same time, modern images of Christmas with Santa Claus, big shopping days and present exchanges between adults have clearly arrived through international media, especially from countries like the United States (North America).
Today many Dutch families combine these layers. When children are young, Sinterklaas usually carries most of the presents. Christmas is used for smaller gifts, cosy meals and quiet time. When children grow older and stop believing in Sinterklaas, some families shift more presents to Christmas. Dutch winter life is therefore not a simple copy of anywhere else, but a blend of Sinterklaas and Christmas that reflects both local history and global influence.
A very short Dutch mini-lesson
December in the Netherlands (Europe) also comes with a small set of key Dutch words. Knowing them makes calendars, shop signs and TV schedules easier to read.
Here are five basic terms for the dates:
- Sinterklaas – the winter figure based on Saint Nicholas.
- Pakjesavond – the evening of 5 December when presents are opened.
- Kerstavond – Christmas Eve on 24 December.
- Eerste Kerstdag – 25 December, literally “first Christmas day”.
- Tweede Kerstdag – 26 December, literally “second Christmas day”.
And here is a mini-lesson with three useful greetings, with word-by-word hints:
- Prettige kerstdagen
Prettige = pleasant
kerstdagen = Christmas days - Vrolijk kerstfeest
Vrolijk = joyful or merry
kerstfeest = Christmas feast or Christmas celebration - Fijne feestdagen
Fijne = nice
feestdagen = feast days or holidays
These pairs are not slang; they are friendly, neutral ways to wish people well in December. Prettige kerstdagen and Vrolijk kerstfeest fit cards and family talk. Fijne feestdagen works for the whole season, including New Year. With just these few phrases and the date words for Sinterklaas, Eerste Kerstdag and Tweede Kerstdag, the Dutch December calendar becomes much easier to read and explain.
Conclusions
How it all fits together
December in the Netherlands (Europe) does not run on a single big Christmas Eve. Instead, it moves in two steps.
First comes Sinterklaas, tied to 5 December and the saint’s day on 6 December, when children receive their main gifts and families play with poems and surprise packages. Then come Christmas Eve and the two Christmas days at the end of the month, with a quiet 24 December and two official holidays on 25 December and 26 December that focus more on food, visits and rest.
In December 2025, this pattern is still visible: Sinterklaas has already filled early December with stories and presents, and Christmas on 25 and 26 December 2025 is still ahead, ready to bring slower days of light and shared meals. Once the roles of each date are clear, questions such as “Which is the real Christmas for them?” become easier to answer. Sinterklaas is the classic gift feast; Christmas is the double winter holiday. Together, they are simply how December works in the Netherlands (Europe).
Selected References
Read more about dates and holidays
[1] “Sinterklaas” – General overview of the Sinterklaas tradition, Saint Nicholas’ day on 6 December, and the gift night on 5 December in the Netherlands (Europe).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas
[2] “Netherlands: Sinterklaas customs” – Detailed description of how Sinterklaas is celebrated on 5 December with family parties, gifts and surprise packages. St. Nicholas Center.
https://www.stnicholascenter.org/around-the-world/customs/netherlands
[3] “Public holidays in the Netherlands” – Official overview of national holidays, including Eerste Kerstdag and Tweede Kerstdag on 25 December and 26 December 2025. Government of the Netherlands.
https://www.government.nl/topics/working-hours/question-and-answer/public-holidays-in-the-netherlands
[4] “Dutch holidays 2025 & 2026” – Clear list of Sinterklaas on 5 December and Christmas holidays on 25 December and 26 December. IamExpat.
https://www.iamexpat.nl/lifestyle/about-the-netherlands/dutch-holidays
[5] “Ins and outs of the Dutch Christmas tradition: Gourmetten” – Explanation of gourmetten as a typical Dutch way to eat together at Christmas. IamExpat.
https://www.iamexpat.nl/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/ins-and-outs-dutch-christmas-tradition-gourmetten
[6] “Typical Dutch Christmas traditions” – Simple guide to Dutch Christmas customs, including gourmetten and the role of Eerste Kerstdag and Tweede Kerstdag. LearnDutch.org.
https://www.learndutch.org/beginners/typical-dutch-christmas-traditions/
[7] “Dutch holidays: A guide for international professionals” – Overview of Dutch public holidays, with a section on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (Tweede Kerstdag). Adams Multilingual Recruitment.
https://adamsrecruitment.com/blog/dutch-holidays/
[8] “The Dutch Christmas? An expat guide to Sinterklaas in the Netherlands” – Explanation of Sinterklaas as the Dutch equivalent of Christmas for many families. IamExpat.
https://www.iamexpat.nl/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/dutch-christmas-expat-guide-sinterklaas-netherlands
[9] “Christmas in the Netherlands: A guide for expats” – Description of how expats can join Dutch Christmas, with notes on gourmetten and visiting relatives. All About Expats.
https://allaboutexpats.nl/christmas-in-the-netherlands-a-guide-for-expats/
[10] “Gourmetten in the Netherlands: the ultimate Dutch dining experience” – Cultural article on winter gourmetten and its place in Dutch celebrations. DutchReview.
https://dutchreview.com/culture/food/gourmetten-gezellig-evening-classic-dutch-dining/
[11] “In deze landen vieren ze ook Sinterklaas” – Short news video about countries that celebrate Sinterklaas, from the NOS Jeugdjournaal YouTube channel (Dutch public broadcaster).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8aRlfs0LCc
Appendix
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is 24 December in the Netherlands (Europe). It is usually a working day, with a simple evening at home or a church service for some families, and it is not the main national celebration or a full public holiday.
Eerste Kerstdag
Eerste Kerstdag is the Dutch name for First Christmas Day on 25 December in the Netherlands (Europe). It is an official holiday and is often spent with close family, long meals and a calm, cosy atmosphere.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country in north-western Europe (Europe) where December traditions combine Sinterklaas on 5 December with two Christmas holidays on 25 December and 26 December, plus a generally quiet Christmas Eve on 24 December.
Pakjesavond
Pakjesavond is the Dutch name for the evening of 5 December in the Netherlands (Europe), when Sinterklaas presents are opened at home, often in playful packages with poems and surprises.
Prettige kerstdagen
Prettige kerstdagen is a common Dutch greeting in the Netherlands (Europe) that wishes someone pleasant Christmas days and is widely used on cards, shop signs and in spoken greetings during December.
Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas is the Dutch winter figure based on Saint Nicholas. In the Netherlands (Europe) he is linked to 6 December as the saint’s day but is celebrated mainly on 5 December with a gift evening called Pakjesavond.
Spain
Spain is a country in south-western Europe (Europe) that appears in Dutch Sinterklaas stories as the place from which Sinterklaas travels by steamboat to the Netherlands (Europe) ahead of the 5 December celebrations.
Tweede Kerstdag
Tweede Kerstdag is the Dutch name for Second Christmas Day on 26 December in the Netherlands (Europe). It is an official holiday often used for visiting other relatives, going for winter walks or enjoying another relaxed festive meal.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 