In the Netherlands, in the evening of December 5 (and thus the eve of 6 December, his name day), Sinterklaas brings presents to every child that has been good in the past year (in practice to all children). Sinterklaas wears a red bishop’s dress including a red mitre, rides a white horse (called Americo) over the rooftops and is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colourful Moorish dresses, dating back two centuries. These helpers are called ‘Zwarte Pieten’ (Black Petes). During the Middle-ages Zwarte Piet was a name for the devil. Having triumphed over evil, it was said that on Saint Nicholas eve the devil was shackled and made his slave. Although the character of Black Pete later came to acquire racial connotations, his origins were in the devil figure. This racialization is reflected in the reworking of the characters’ mythos. Their blackness was racial, with Pete being an imported African servant of Saint Nicholas since 1850 (though some people say Pete was a slave who, when Sinterklaas bought him his freedom, was so grateful that he stayed to assist him). Today however, the more politically correct explanation that Pete’s face is “black from soot” (as Pete has to climb through chimneys to deliver his gifts) is used. Traditionally Saint Nicholas only had one helper, whose name varied wildly. “Piet(er)” the name in use now can be traced back to a book from 1891.

‘Sinterklaas’ has a long white beard, holds a long gold coloured staff with a fancy curled top in his hand and carries a big book with all the children’s names in it, and whether they have been good or bad.

Children are told that Black Pete enters the house through the chimney, which also explained his black face and hands, and would leave a bundle of sticks or a small bag with salt in the shoe instead of candy when the child had been bad. Children are also told that in the worst case they would be put in the gunny sack that Black Pete carries the presents in, and be taken back to Madrid in Spain, where ‘Sinterklaas’ spends the rest of the year. This practice however has been condemned by Sinterklaas, in his more recent television appearances, as something of the past.

Traditionally Saint Nicholas brings his gifts in the night. In The Netherlands adults started to give each other presents on the evening of the 5th; then older children were included and today in that country even the youngest take part in ‘Sinterklaasavond’ or ‘Pakjesavond’: children at home sing ‘Sinterklaas’ songs and suddenly somebody will knock on the door very loudly, and when they go to the door a gunny sack full of presents is found on the doorstep. Alternatively - some improvisation is often called for - the parents ‘hear a sound coming from the attic’ and then the bag with presents is ‘found’ there. Some parents manage to ‘convince’ Sinterklaas to come to their home personally.

Typical presents include the first letter of the child’s name made out of chocolate, a figurine of Sinterklaas made out of chocolate and wrapped in painted aluminium foil, coloured marzipan shaped into fruit, an animal or some other object. These presents are often accompanied by a simple poem, saying something about the child or with a hint to the nature of the present. Also popular are coins and cigarettes made out of chocolate. However, the European Parliament has issued a recommendation to ban chocolate cigarettes since they might promote future real smoking.