The morning of the 18 November a procession of very special ships will travel the river Amstel and the channels of Amsterdam: is the ship of Sinterklaas with his cheerful and colorful following, who came from Spain to bring sweets and gifts to good children.
Dressed in a long cloak and a red miter, Sinterklaas is an elder with a long white beard, with a golden processional staff, accompanied by his faithful assistants, the Zwarte Pieten, always generous with gifts for everyone. It looks like, but it's not Santa Claus. Indeed, it is the figure from which that of Santa Claus in the United States was born.
The legend of Sinterklaas is older and stems from the story of San Nicola, patron saint of sailors, children and the city of Amsterdam itself. Tradition tells that Sint Nikolaas, bishop of Mira in Turkey, arrived in Holland on a procession of ships and that he showed himself generous with the children, and then left for Spain. Popular imagination has transformed theevent in a party which is repeated every year with the re-enactment of his arrival and an exchange of gifts on the eve of St. Nicholas' day, December 5th.
Before this date, Sinterklass's ship arrives from Spain and visits the main cities of the Netherlands by moving through the canals and sparking a big party. It starts precisely from Amsterdam on 18 November, with the arrival at 11.30 at Maritime Museum and the subsequent parade on horseback through the streets of the city starting at 12.30. If you cross his path you will be overwhelmed by a shower of sweets and pepernoten, traditional cinnamon biscuits. At 13.30 pm he will arrive in Dam square for a small musical event for young and old, and then finish the path in Leidseplein at 16.30.
That of San Nicola is a tradition to which the Dutch they are very fond of and they celebrate with enthusiasm and warmth. In contrast to the more commercial figure of Santa Claus, Sinterklass represents for the Dutch the real December party, an opportunity to meet with family and friends for a sincere exchange of dons of desserts.
