In Holland, at the beginning of  December, Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas as the Dutch people call him, comes sailing into Amsterdam on a ship from Spain. Children line  the streets to sing and shout to Santa as he rides on his white horse in procession through the streets.

On the 5th December: Sinterklaas Eve, Dutch children leave their shoes outdoors,  filled up with hay and sugar for Sinterklaas's horse. Providing the children have been good, Santa's helper "Zwarte Piet" knows the names of all the naughty children, they will find presents left in their shoes for them.

On the 24th of December, mothers throughout Holland, wrap up the presents and put them under the Christmas tree and decorate the house with candles. The children are not allowed to open any of their presents until after a special breakfast of kerstbrood, which is a kind of fruit loaf