Sinterklaas is coming to town!

Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet decorations are seen all over Holland this time of year. The Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas on December 5th every year.

Tradition says that Sinterklaas rides a white horse and brings with him his helpers (whose faces are covered with chimney soot from listening to find out if the children have been bad or good) called Zwarte Piet.

Andrew and I, unfortunately, missed the arrival of Sinterklaas into Haarlem a week and a half ago. He arrives on a boat from Spain...and children are told that if they are not good he will put them in a sack and bring them back to Spain with him when he leaves!

We saw this man riding around on his bicycle last weekend:

While walking through town we saw many young people dressed up as Zwart Piet going around town on roller-skates!

This past weekend Sinterklaas made another appearance  in the Houtplein and in the Grote Markt areas. Andrew and I were able to see them and have our photos taken!