The Unique Dutch Gift-Givers

In an effort to avoid the post-Reformation bans on St. Nicholas’ Day, the Netherlands produced a number of unique gift-givers, including Sinterklaas (also known as Sint Nikolaas or Sint-Niklaas) and Zwarte Piet (“Black Peter”).

Modern Sinterklaas and Black Peters

This photograph shows the modern depiction of Sinterklaas and his helpers

Sint Nikolaas en zijn Knecht Jan Schenkman 1850

by Jan Schenkman, 1850. The Dutch traditions of today stem largely from a children’s book

Aankomst van Sint-Nicolaas Gebroeders van Lier 1845

The Arrival of St. Nicholas,” by Dutch artist Gebroeders van Lier

Sint Nicolaes te Paerd

This colorful illustration from 1822, which translates as “folk print of St. Nicholas on horseback

Ziet Bisschop Sint Niklaas, Kindren hier te Paard 1806

Bishop Niklass, Saint of Children on Horse

Sint-Niklaas als geschenkheilige 1798

In Sint-Niklaas als Geschenk Heilige, “with holy gifts”, a woodcut by Dutch artist F. Povel in 1798, “Sint-Niklaas” is once again

Sinter Klass 1766

Sinter Klass (P. Servaas, 1766). This 1766 woodcut created by P. Servaas appears to be the earliest depiction of Sinterklaas riding a

Sint Nikolaas 1760

The garments on this illustration of “Sint Nikolaas” by Dutch artist R. Koene in 1760

Sinter Klaas 1750

This illustration, produced the same year as Sint Nicolaas, Goet Heylig Man, is titled Sinter Klaas because of the Dutch ban on celebration of St. Nicholas’ Day, a Catholic holiday, following the Protestant Reformation.

Sint Nicolaas Goet Heylig Man

ear 1750. This is one of the earliest depictions of Sint Nicolaas, “Good Holy Man”, in the Netherlands.