Christmas in the Netherlands

Vrolijk Kersfeest!

Midwinter Hoornblazen

Rural eastern areas of the country celebrate different Christmas traditions in the Netherlands. In addition to Sinterklaas Avond celebrations, this area is well known for the midwinter hoornblazen, or midwinter horn blowing. Handmade horns, three- or four-foot horns carved from birch or elder saplings, are blown over wells to announce Advent and herald the birth of Christ. The low tone produced from these horns resonating over the wells can be heard for several miles, and it is not unusual for several farms to seem to call to one another with their horns.

In some areas, these horns may be blown each day of Advent, or they may be reserved for the first or last days of the spiritual celebration

Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day

December 25, known as Eerste Kerstdag, is still a holiday in the Netherlands. But since most gift-giving is done on Sinterklaas Avond, this day is a time for quiet church services and traditional family meals. Christmas Day is a time for family gatherings and delicious meals, including special breakfasts and formal dinners that include the food gourmetten. Santa Claus (Kerstman) is believed to come from Finland on Christmas Eve and deliver small gifts (but most of the major gift-giving has already been done on St. Nicholas Eve).

Food : A key element of many holiday celebrations, including Christmas in the Netherlands. Candy wreaths often decorate trees, and small treats may be given with gifts. Lavish dinners on Sinterklaas Avond typically include venison or roast goose, roast pork, vegetables, and homemade breads. Boiled chestnuts, fruit, an almond paste bread (kerststol) similar to marzipan, and cookies are also popular. Many families bake letter cakes shaped like the first letter of each family member's name to add a personal and tasty dish to the holiday fare. Currant buns and rich breads with fruit and nuts (stollen) are also popular.

From : https://christmas.lovetoknow.com/Christmas_Traditions_in_the_Netherlands

Christmas in the Netherlands Fact #5 – While most Europeans begin celebrating Christmas on December 1st, the Dutch begin the first Saturday after November 11th when Sinterklaas arrives on a boat from Spain. 

Christmas in the Netherlands Fact #7 – Instead of a sleigh pulled by reindeer, Sinterklaas rides a white horse named Amerigo.

Dutch Christmas Fact #13 – Nearly everyone receives a large, chocolate letter of their first initial in their wooden shoes from Sinterklaas.

Dutch Christmas Fact #16 – A thick, brandy-spiked variation of eggnog called Advocaat is often served over the holidays.

From : https://everydaywanderer.com/christmas-in-the-netherlands

From : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas

A very scrummy treat to try : 

From  https://www.weekendbakery.com/posts/our-perfect-christmas-stollen/

Ingredients for Stollen

Makes 1 stollen of about 800 g

250 g all purpose flour (we use French type 55)

135 g lukewarm milk*

7 g instant yeast or 21 g fresh yeast

5.5 g salt

1 egg yolk

40 g butter, softened

15 g ‘sweetener'(orange and lemon zest sugar)

180 g dried fruits equal parts, raisins, currants, cranberries, soaked and dried

150 g almond paste combined with 1/2 a small egg or one egg yolk 

melted butter for brushing

icing sugar for dusting

I have bought this treat for several years from the supermarket so it's also available for those who are domestically challenged ( i.e. Can't cook that is :))

Here in Rotorua the "Netherlands Society" celebrates Sinterklaas Avond together every year at the beginning of December. To see how our Dutch community makes Christmas special follow them on their Facebook page 

The society has been running here in Rotorua for over 50 years Netherlands Society

You can also read about the Netherlands in a Lonely Planet Guide by Nicola Williams. This book can be found on the 1st Floor Adult Non-Fiction Collection, at 949.2 TRA 2019

or you could read some newsletters published by the local society "Geyser News" which is found in the Don Stafford Room on the 2nd Floor.

Our Christmas Display on the 2nd Floor has items loaned to us by Abbey one of our lovely staff members who has shared some of her own items from the Netherlands.

This Post compiled by Alison