Prettige Kerstdagen! All the Dutch Christmas words an expat needs to know

Christmas is coming, so make sure you know how to celebrate with the Dutch. Knowing how to wish you neighbours a “Merry Christmas” and understanding the difference between Sinterklaas and Santa Claus will be appreciated by the locals, while knowing how to ask for a present to be gift-wrapped will make your life much easier!

Essential Dutch Christmas words

Whether you’ve thrown yourself in head first or you’re only just starting to learn Dutch, Christmas-specific vocabulary might not have turned up on your reading lists yet. Here are the main greetings, words and phrases to get you through the festive season.

Greetings

It’s nice to be able to wish people a Merry Christmas as the main event draws near. Here’s a few of the key phrases that you’ll need to know to spread the Christmas spirit wherever you go!

• Vrolijk Kerstmis, gelukkig Kerstmis, prettige Kerstdagen and prettig Kerstmis all mean “Merry Christmas”. You can just stick to one if you’re a nervous Dutch speaker, or mix it up!
• Mogen al je wensen uitkomen is more for in Christmas cards, and means “May all your wishes come true!”
• Prettige kerstdagen en veel geluk voor het nieuwe jaar! Is a useful one for people you won’t see until January rolls back around. It means “Merry Christmas and lots of luck for the new year!”

The season

As Christmas (Kerstmis) approaches, the snow (sneeuw) starts to fall and children start to dream of reindeer (rendier) and sleighs (sleeën), it’s time to start feeling cosy (gezellig).

Feestdagen strictly means public holidays, so should only apply to the two days people get off on December 25 and 26, but it’s often used to signify the whole Christmas season. Kersttijd can also be used to refer to the festive season, even though that traditionally only applied to the days from December 25 until January 6.

As the temperature drops, you’ll find the Dutch out ice skating (schaatsen) the moment the ice is thick enough. If skating on natural ice is too risky for you, temporary ice rinks (ijsbanen) will pop up everywhere for you to practise your moves.

Sinterklaas or Santa Claus?

The first signs that the Netherlands is getting festive (feestelijk) are often not Christmas events and decorations but ones for Sinterklaas. Despite having a name that sounds very like, and being the source material for, Santa Claus, these are different people and mixing them together won’t make you any friends! You can read our guides to find out more about Sinterklaas and how to celebrate December 5, but here’s a few key facts:

Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands in mid-November, with big parades and celebration known as intocht. From the day of intocht until the eve of St. Nicholas Day, on December 5, children set their shoes (schoentje zetten) by the fireplace (haard) and find candy (snoep) and little treats placed in them. They get more treats if they have been nice (lief) than if they have been naughty (stout)!

The evening of December 5 is known as pakjesavond (present evening), and for a very long time this was the main present-giving night in the Netherlands, eclipsing Christmas. This is changing now, but pakjesavond isn’t going anywhere, leading Dutch parents to despair over having two present days in one month!

The Dutch generally only start to plan and decorate for Christmas once Sinterklaas has been and gone.

Preparations and Christmas shopping

After St Nicholas' Day on December 6, you can start thinking about your Christmas decorations (kerstversiering) and buying your Christmas presents (kerstcadeaus).

Christmas wreaths (kerstkrans) and Christmas arrangements (kerststukjes) are very popular and available from all florists, in a variety of sizes. Christmas trees (kerstbomen) are also a feature of most households, and you can pick them up from florists, pop-up stalls or even big hardware stores such as Gamma.

For Christmas shopping, there are a few Christmas markets (kerstmarkten) that happen around the Netherlands, but be quick! Unlike in neighbouring Germany, most Christmas markets in the Netherlands are only on for a few days. Exceptions to this are generally in the south, with Maastricht and the amazing underground markets of Valkenburg running through the whole season.

If you prefer to do your shopping on the high street, beware the queues. It’s not only that the shops get busier in the run up to Christmas, but also that every half-decent store starts to ask “Is het een cadeautje?”, or “Is it a gift?” Answer yes, and they will helpfully wrap it up for you, despite the long line that may be building!

If they don’t offer, but you would like them to gift-wrap it for you, you can ask “Kun je het inpakken?” If you prefer to wrap it at home (which gives the added bonus of being able to ensure all the price tags are removed!), you’ll need to shop for inpakpapier (wrapping paper), plakband (sticky tape) and lintje (ribbon).

Christmas Eve

Unlike in many other European countries, Christmas Eve (Kerstavond) isn’t a big deal in the Netherlands. Most people will work a regular day, although midnight mass (nachtmis) is a common event in many churches, and even the non-religious families tend to enjoy going for the tradition of it.

Of course, even though Sinterklaas has already been at the start of December, Christmas Eve is time for the Kerstman, or Santa Claus or Father Christmas, as you may know him. Children will hang up their stocking (kerstsok) by the chimney (schoorsteen) and wait the treats that he will leave overnight. Not all Dutch families believe in the Kerstman, so it can be worth checking with the parents before talking to kids about whether they are excited for his visit!

Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Christmas gets two public holidays in the Netherlands, with December 25 being First Christmas Day (Eerste Kerstdag) and Boxing Day on December 26 being Second Christmas Day (Tweede Kerstdag).

Families will spend this time together, eating well, playing games and exchanging gifts. Having two Christmas days means that most Dutch people will spend Christmas Day with one side of the family and Boxing Day with the other side, or perhaps visiting more distant family and friends.

Don’t expect the big Boxing Day sales that can be popular in other countries. Most stores will be closed, although supermarkets have started to open in recent years. Both Christmas Days are really about family.

Dutch Christmas food

So what do the Dutch eat at Christmas? Nowadays, gourmetten is by far the most popular choice for Christmas dinner (kerstdiner). This is where a central hot plate (or hot plate device - these things can get complicated!) is set in the centre of the table and everyone cooks their own, tiny versions of meals. You’ll start to see very small hamburgers, sausages and steaks for sale in the run up to Christmas, and this is why!

If you want a turkey (kalkoen) or goose (gans) instead of miniature foods, make sure you order one in from your butcher in advance!

Oh, and if you see Christmas bread (kerstbrood) for sale, don’t pick it up in place of regular bread! It’s much more akin to a German stollen, and will be filled with raisins, nuts and almond paste, and is often iced.

New Year

In an unusual turn of events, the Dutch don’t celebrate New Year’s Eve, but rather they celebrate the Old Year instead, (Oudjaarsavond). Often, New Year's celebrations in the Netherlands will be referred to as Oud en Nieuw, covering both the old year of December 31 and the New Year of January 1.

The Dutch New Year’s Eve might be changing in the next few years. At present, they simply go crazy with fireworks (vuurwerken), letting them off in any open (ish) space they can find. However, legislation in likely to be incoming to ban fireworks outside of official displays, so they’ll have to find a new way to let out all that energy instead!

Those olliebollen stalls that you might have seen out and about seem to open earlier every year, but it used to be the case that these deep-fried, doughnut-like snacks were only eaten on New Year’s.

On New Year’s Day (Nieuwjaarsdag), which is a public holiday, it’s common to head outside. Windy walks on the beach are popular, and several beach locations host a chilly New Year’s Dive (Nieuwjaarsduik)! After getting icy in the North Sea, everyone warms up with pea soup (erwtensoep, often called snert) and hot chocolate (warme chocolademelk).

After that shock to your system, don’t forget to make your New Year’s resolutions (goede voornemens)!

Go Dutch this Christmas

Now you are fully armed with all the words you need to spread the joy of Christmas near and far! Why not try writing a festive message in Dutch in a Christmas card for your neighbour or go for a North Sea swim on January 1 and embrace your new-found Dutchness!