Surviving Sinterklaas in Delft

As with any family holiday, food and quirky customs are a big part of the fun. Here’s what you need to know to become a part of the action.

Chocoladeletter

Literally translated to Chocolate Letter, the tradition dates back to the 16th century, when convents carved bread in the shape of letters to teach children the alphabet. Today, chocolate letters in the shape of their initials are given to children on Sinterklaas. Reportedly, over 20 million letters are produced each year in the Netherlands. At the Leonidas chocolate shop on Choorstraat you can get your initials in rich Belgian chocolate (dark, milk and white). They also have chocolate Sinterklaas statues. Chocolaterie De Lelie on Voorstraat also sells beautifully decorated letters. If you’re looking for chocolate letters that are a little more pocket friendly, try Kruidvat or Jumbo. “Traditionally, mothers or grandmothers buy the letters for children to eat on the morning of December 5th,” explained Els Hoogendjk, who works at Leonidas.

Kruidnoten, Pepernoten and Speculaas

Delft smells like heaven at this time of year, probably because of these confectionary delights. Speculaas are traditional biscuits made with a heady cocktail of spices – nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom. Kruidnoten are smaller, bite sized speculaas. Nowadays, chocolate kruidnoten are also popular, and available at chocolate shops and supermarkets across Delft. For the more traditional ones, try Bakker Jaap, a bakery behind the Markt. You’ll find yourself heading back for more. In fact, bakeries across the city and even Albert Heijn will have a variety of cookies in stock.

A sip of the spirit

Through Glühwein may be the order of the season, Simon Levelt, a quaint tea shop on the Markt, usually has some Sinterklaas specials to offer. Such as Sinterklaas tea flavoured with cinnamon and Pieten tea that tastes like a hot sip of speculaas. “These are our most popular teas at this time of the year. We order about 20 kilos of both teas and by December 4th, we have only two or three packets left,” explained Helen Taylor, who was managing the store when we visited.

Mandarijntjes

Oranges, especially mandarin oranges are a big part of the season. It is said that Sinterklaas brings a batch of the sweetest oranges when he comes from Spain. Don’t worry if you miss his boat though, because fruit shops here will be importing special oranges just for the holiday. “We will be importing oranges from Morrocco, the finest, sweetest oranges you can find,” said Abdoel Hillali, of the ‘T Fruithuisje.

Gifts and gifting

Gifts are a big part of the holiday as well. Children leave their shoes next to the fireplace in the hope that Sinterklaas will leave them some presents. “Children put some things inside their shoes. It could be a little hay for Sinterklaas’s horse, maybe a gift or a poem for him as well,” said Elline DeJong of Dozijn, a gift shop tucked into a tiny corner at Papenstraat. They also sell some seasonal wrapping paper and decorations. De Winkel, on Vrouwjuttenland, which calls itself the “most entertaining gift shop in Delft” has hand crafted decorations for the seasons – from gorgeous tiny ballerinas to gawking frogs and crazy clowns. Don’t worry about stretching your budget though, you can find great decorations and gifts at the Museum Shop of the Botanical Garden of TU Delft, where TU students get a 10% discount.

This is an updated version of a previous Delft Survival Guide article.