Whether this is your first Christmas in the Netherlands or you just want to start celebrating the festive season the Dutch way, there are a few things you can do to make Yuletide a jolly good time. From gourmetten to Christmas trees, let’s unwrap the Dutch Christmas traditions that you can enjoy with your family and friends this holiday season.
Christmas in the Netherlands
The festive season in the Netherlands officially begins on December 5 with Sinterklaas, often referred to as the Dutch Christmas. This holiday is more dedicated to gift-giving and is celebrated differently from Christmas on December 25.
Only after Sinterklaas do a lot of people in the Netherlands decorate for Christmas and put up their Christmas trees. Some of the main things that make Christmas in the Netherlands special are the food, the two days of Christmas, and the emphasis on spending quality time with family.
7 essential elements of a Dutch Christmas
Ready to embrace Yuletide like the Dutch? Grab a handful of tasty kruidnoten, a pen and a piece of paper, and take note of the Dutch Christmas traditions you should include in your holiday celebrations.
Two days of Christmas
Ever wished that Christmas could last a little longer? Well, the Netherlands celebrates the holiday an extra day. There is First Christmas Day (Eerste Kerstdag) on December 25 and Second Christmas Day (Tweede Kerstdag) on December 26 - both are public holidays.
Both these days are focused on spending time with family and friends, exchanging gifts and eating heartwarming Dutch Christmas food. It’s also a handy tradition if you have a lot of family to visit over Christmas - you can spend one day with one side of the family and the second with the other side.
Dutch Christmas trees and other festive decorations
Just like in other countries around the world, it isn’t Christmas in the Netherlands without a Christmas tree. The Dutch Christmas tree (Kerstboom) is usually a living pine tree which is brought into the home and decorated with various baubles, tinsel and lights.
Some Delft Blue Christmas ornaments are also bound to find their way onto the trees of many Dutch residents. Other than the Christmas tree, homes will also be decorated with lights, nativity scenes and other knick-knacks which you often see on windowsills as you walk past.
Dutch Christmas food
With all the snacks that are available in the Netherlands year-round, it’s no surprise that you’ll get to nibble on a number of tasty treats during the festive season too. A typical Dutch Christmas dinner will have everyone sitting around a table, cooking their own pieces of meat and vegetables in little pans on a grill - this is called gourmetten and is the main event on the day.
Other traditional foods enjoyed around Christmas in the Netherlands include the kerststol, a sweet bread filled with fruits and a rich almond paste, and various types of biscuits including kruidnoten, speculaas and kerstkransjes, which are cookies in the shape of wreaths that can also be hung on the Christmas tree.
A collection of Christmas songs
Like any celebration, music is an important accompaniment to Christmas. Soon after Sinterklaas, you’ll start hearing Dutch Christmas songs playing in supermarkets. Many of the festive tunes might also be played in the background during Christmas dinner. Some of the classic Dutch Christmas tunes include Flappie and Eenzame Kerst.
Another unique sound you’ll hear in the eastern parts of the Netherlands during the Christmas season is mid-winter horn blowing. Especially in rural areas, you could be lucky enough to hear a low tune that is produced from handmade wooden horns.
Christmas gifts
In the Netherlands, the exchange of gifts is mainly done on pakjesavond, the evening before Sinterklaas. Because most of the presents have already been exchanged, it is not as much a part of Christmas traditions in the Netherlands. It’s more likely that a few presents are given in a similar fashion to a Secret Santa or a White Elephant. This way you don’t have to buy gifts for everyone all over again.
For those who work at a Dutch company, you’ll probably also get a kerstpakket (Christmas package). This is essentially a Christmas gift box, often a food basket, that companies give to their employees as a little thank you for all their hard work.
Strolls through Dutch Christmas markets
What is the holiday season without at least one trip to a Christmas market? With so many festive events to choose from that incorporate a market, you could probably visit one every day in December.
If you want to explore different cities and do some festive shopping at the same time, a Christmas market in the Netherlands is a fantastic opportunity to do so. Not only are you supporting the locals and having a stroll around a new city, but you can also get some lekker Christmas food and spend some quality time with the family and kids.
Image credit: Photography by Adri / Shutterstock.com
A gathering of your friends and family
Christmas is of course a time to spend with your loved ones, gathering around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts and around the dinner table to enjoy a hearty meal. Another Dutch holiday tradition that many people embrace during the two days of Christmas is to slow down, relax and cherish the time with their friends and family. Some simple ways they do this is by watching Dutch Christmas movies together, playing board games or even visiting a festive ice skating rink.
Add these Dutch Christmas traditions to your holiday celebrations!
Now you know everything you need to celebrate a traditional Dutch Christmas, you can truly embrace the festive season in the Netherlands. Embrace these Dutch holiday traditions and incorporate some of your own, but most importantly, have a very merry Christmas!
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