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THE HAGUE – October 4, 2026 | The Dutch Daily
Sinterklaas 2026: Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands on Saturday 14 November 2026 in the historic town of Grave, in the municipality of Land van Cuijk (North Brabant). The public broadcaster NTR shows the national arrival (intocht) live from 12:00 on NPO Zapp (NPO 3). The children’s news programme Het Sinterklaasjournaal starts on Monday 9 November and runs every day until 5 December, the big evening of presents. Here is what expats and their children need to know.
Sinterklaas 2026: key dates
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Monday 9 November | Het Sinterklaasjournaal starts, daily at 18:00 on NPO Zapp (NPO 3) |
| Saturday 14 November | National arrival (landelijke intocht) in Grave; live from 12:00 on NPO Zapp (NPO 3) |
| Dates set locally | Local arrivals, organised by each municipality |
| Saturday 5 December | “Het heerlijk avondje”, the Sinterklaas evening (pakjesavond) |
Sinterklaas 2026: contents
1. The national arrival in Grave
According to NTR, Sinterklaas always arrives in the Netherlands on the first Saturday after Sint Maarten. In 2026 that is Saturday 14 November, in the historic town of Grave, municipality of Land van Cuijk. NTR reports on the arrival from 12:00 on NPO Zapp (NPO 3). Merel Westrik presents both the arrival and Het Sinterklaasjournaal, with reporters Stephanie van Eer and Jeroen Kramer.
If you want to go to Grave in person, the municipality organises the event; local clubs from the host town decorate the arrival, and NTR says people from outside the municipality cannot take part in the parade.
2. Why Grave?
NTR announced the location on 24 February 2026. In a video, the mayor of Land van Cuijk, Marieke Moorman, fished a bottle with a letter out of the river Maas: the bottle Sinterklaas had thrown from his steamboat the year before, and where it washed up, the next arrival would be. Last year the national arrival took place on Texel. It is the first time in 26 years that Sinterklaas arrives in a municipality in Brabant; the last time was Woudrichem in 2000.
3. Local arrivals in your town
Your town may also hold its own local intocht. Arrivals are organised by the municipality, so check your gemeente’s website or local news for the date and route. Going with classmates is a nice way for expat children to join in.
4. Het Sinterklaasjournaal
Het Sinterklaasjournaal is a daily “news” programme about Sinterklaas for children and adults. It starts on the Monday before the national arrival, in 2026 on Monday 9 November, and is on every day at 18:00 on NPO Zapp (NPO 3) until 5 December. Recent episodes are on NPO Start. NTR says the programme is never behind a paywall. Watching it together can also be good Dutch listening practice for children and parents.
5. Putting out your shoe
Putting out a shoe (je schoen zetten) is still very popular, according to the Meertens Institute: almost all children do it, and several times while Sinterklaas is in the country. Ethnologist Markus Balkenhol explains that the custom probably comes from the legend of the three girls, in which the saint threw gold coins through a window and some landed in a shoe.
6. 5 December: the evening of presents
The Sinterklaas period builds up to 5 December, which NTR calls “het heerlijk avondje” (the lovely evening). In 2026, 5 December falls on a Saturday. In the Netherlands this Sinterklaas evening is also called pakjesavond (literally: parcels evening) or sinterklaasavond, the evening when Sinterklaas brings presents.
If your child’s school or your workplace plans a Sinterklaas celebration, ask the teacher or your colleagues what is expected, for example whether presents have a price limit.
7. Sign language and audio description
NTR offers Het Sinterklaasjournaal episodes on its website with sign language and with audio description. During the live broadcast, audio description is available through the Earcatch app.
8. FAQ
When does Sinterklaas arrive in 2026?
On Saturday 14 November 2026, in Grave (Land van Cuijk). NTR broadcasts the arrival live from 12:00 on NPO Zapp (NPO 3).
Where is the Sinterklaas intocht in 2026?
The national arrival is in the historic town of Grave, in the municipality of Land van Cuijk, North Brabant. Local arrivals take place in towns across the country.
When does the Sinterklaasjournaal start in 2026?
On Monday 9 November 2026, daily at 18:00 on NPO Zapp (NPO 3), until 5 December.
When is pakjesavond in 2026?
On Saturday 5 December 2026.
How is Sinterklaas’s arrival day chosen?
According to NTR, Sinterklaas always arrives on the first Saturday after Sint Maarten.
🇳🇱 Dutch Corner: Sinterklaas words
| Dutch | Meaning |
|---|---|
| De intocht | The arrival (parade) |
| De landelijke intocht | The national arrival |
| De stoomboot | The steamboat |
| Je schoen zetten | To put out your shoe |
| Het pakje / de pakjes | Present / presents (parcels) |
| Pakjesavond | Sinterklaas evening when presents are given (literally: parcels evening) |
| Het heerlijk avondje | “The lovely evening” (5 December) |
| De Goedheiligman | The good holy man (Sinterklaas) |
| De gemeente | The municipality |
| Het cadeau | The present |
Want to understand more Dutch by December? Start our free Dutch game lessons or learn 47 basic Dutch phrases with audio. Planning winter outings? See our Christmas markets 2026.
Sources
- NTR, 24 February 2026: “Landelijke intocht Sinterklaas dit jaar in Grave (Land van Cuijk)” (14 November 2026, broadcast from 12:00 on NPO Zapp/NPO 3, Sinterklaasjournaal from 9 November, presenters, mayor Marieke Moorman and the bottle in the Maas, Texel last year, first time in Brabant in 26 years, Woudrichem in 2000).
- NTR, Het Sinterklaasjournaal FAQ (first Saturday after Sint Maarten; daily at 18:00 until 5 December, “het heerlijk avondje”; organisation of the arrival by the municipality; NPO Start; no paywall; sign language and audio description, Earcatch).
- Wiktionary: pakjesavond (from pakje + avond; synonym sinterklaasavond; the evening Sinterklaas brings presents in the Netherlands).
- Meertens Institute (KNAW), November 2024: “Sinterklaas kapoentje” (popularity and origin of putting out the shoe, ethnologist Markus Balkenhol).
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