Me with my surprise from Els
Sinterklaas is a Dutch/Belgian tradition normally celebrated at the beginning of December. Due to vacations, we made a change this year to celebrate both Sinterklaas and Christmas the same day.
A recap: Sinterklaas is the predecessor of Santa – a bishop from Turkey living in Spain who came by steamboat with his Zwarte Pieten to give gifts to good children and branches to whip the bad children. If you’ve been really bad you get put in Sinterklaas’s bag and taken back to Spain. A lot to process.
What I love about Sinterklaas is that the focus is on writing poems and being creative with your surprise. A tradition of Sinterklaas is not just giving a gift, but you draw names, write them a poem, and hide their gift within a homemade surprise that’s been personalized for the recipient.
Butternut squash appetizer by Nikki
And some sweets also by Nikki
Nikki reading her poem from Sofie
Amsterdam Pride Boat Float made from cake with the present inside!
Dook discovering his surprise from Nikki
Barbara reading her poem from Dook
Jeroen with his sculpture surprise from Barbara
Els with her surprise from Jeroen
Barbara with my instructions from Els – I had to construct my own surpise!
A camera!
Opening my gift – inside the camera
Wesley with the surprise I made him – a personalized mug for coffee drinking!
Koen reading his poem from Welsey
I guess Koen and me are known for taking a lot of photos 🙂
Sofie reading her poem from Koen
Spartan trifecta medal made out of bread by Koen
Beard decor – Merry X-mas!
Koen’s tomato tartare on sour dough bread
Beet carpaccio by Dook
Risotto balls and greens by Sofie
Soya cake by Barbara for dessert!
An American in Antwerp 