BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS – THE 8TH DIFFERENCE

Sinterklaas is a well-known phenomenon that is nowhere as popular as in The Netherlands and Belgium. The concept has been often duplicated elsewhere, just think about the most famous copycat, Santa Claus. Sinterklaas remains a regional (Benelux) icon whilst Santa now rules the rest of the world!

Sinterklaas arrived last weekend on his steamer from Spain, accompanied by his helpers and white horse. This holy man has come to Belgium and The Netherlands on the same day, kinda funny, isn’t it?! In both countries all children are anxiously awaiting his visit, to bring them sweets and presents. This is what The Netherlands and Belgium have in common. However, as a Dutchie that has been living in Belgium for a long time I started to see subtle whilst clear differences in how both countries celebrate Sinterklaas….

In Belgium the Sint and his helpers give children mandarins and nic nacs, the well-known, small sugar-coated biscuits. In The Netherlands kids get peppernuts, small round gingerbreads that also made their entree in Belgium some years ago, with retailer @albertheijn.

The Netherlands do not have single name for the white horse, it has been changing over time. It was called Amerigo between 1990 and 2019 and is now called ‘Ozosnel’ (oh so fast). Belgium has been much more consistent in naming its favourite horse, it’s called ‘Slecht Weer Vandaag’ (bad wheather today).  

In The Netherlands children will prepare their shoe in front of the chimney many evenings between mid-November (the Sint’s arrival) and the day he leaves early December, and when they wake up in the morning they find a present. The Belgian kids prepare their shoe also around mid-November and if they are lucky they might already get some sweets. Still, they will definitely have to wait until the morning of December 6th to find out which presents the good holy man has brought for them.

In The Netherlands kids fill their shoe with carrots, bread or sugar lumps for the horse, in Belgium parents make sure that the helper receives a nice cold bottle of beer as well.

And finally, the big celebration in The Netherlands is on December 5th whereas Belgians celebrate Sinterklaas on December 6th. Seems to make sense because this holy man cannot be present in two countries at once ??.

Now, why talk so much about Sinterklaas?

Well, because it’s yet another reminder that these two countries that seem to speak the same language are still very different. They may have some of the same traditions but experience these differently. It brings me back to last year when I wrote about the 7 differences between the two countries (https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/tips-voor-nederlandse-bedrijven-die-belgi%C3%AB-willen-rekruteren-sajet/). In light of the Sinterklaas festivities, I felt like sharing the 8th one with you too ??.