Sinterklass is the Dutch version of Santa.
I took this picture when my friend Nancy was showing me her favourite city.
Sinterklaas sails into Amsterdam on a Sunday mid-November with 600 Pieten and plenty of pepernoten (small spiced biscuits), welcomed by upwards of 400,000 spectators who line the canals.
The white-bearded legend traditionally makes his spectacular entrance into the city by sailing down the Amstel River and following a route through the city past the Nieuwe Amstelbrug, Torontobrug, the Hoge Sluis by the Royal Theatre Carré and the Magere Brug. The waterborne parade ends at the Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) where Sint is welcomed by the Mayor of Amsterdam.
Sinterklaas then trades his boat for his white horse Amerigo, and the parade continues through the streets. He's always accompanied by his band of merry helpers, the Zwarte Pieten, who throw cookies and candy to the thousands of onlookers. After passing through the Prins Hendrikkade and the Damrak, Sinterklaas arrives at Dam Square early afternoon to kick-off a special musical programme for kids of all ages.
Once Sint is in town, children lay out their shoes before bedtime, along with water (or wine) and a carrot for the horse, in the hopes that there will be a gift left there by morning. The very good kids are usually rewarded with chocolate letters and marzipan while the naughty anxiously wait to see if they’ve been given coal, again.
This iconic Amsterdam image is on Dam Square, the central square Amsterdam's historical center. The Dam is the site of many buildings and important events. Each year when Sinterklaas processes through Amsterdam, one of the Piets places a wreath beneath the Sinter Claes image. The wreath remains all year.
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