40 Sinterklaas quiz questions with answers

Forty quiz questions with answers about Sinterklaas, the Dutch feast on 5 December that predates and inspired Santa Claus. Written for a grown-up crowd, and a good way to explain the tradition to anyone who did not grow up with it.

By Thomas van der Pas · Updated August 11, 2026 · 5 min read

What is Sinterklaas?

Sinterklaas is a Dutch and Belgian December feast built around Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop. He arrives by steamboat in mid-November, children put out a shoe for weeks, and on the evening of 5 December (6 December in Belgium) the presents arrive. Among adults the evening usually means drawing lots, homemade "surprise" packaging and mocking poems. The Dutch version travelled to New Amsterdam and became Santa Claus, which is why some of this will look oddly familiar.

Traditions and customs

What is the homemade packaging called that a Sinterklaas present is hidden inside? a surprise
What is the Dutch custom of drawing names to decide who you make a surprise for called? lootjes trekken
What is the daily Dutch TV programme about Sinterklaas, running since 2001, called? het Sinterklaasjournaal
In which month does the national arrival of Sinterklaas take place? November (always on the Saturday between 10 and 16 November)
What is "strooigoed"? sweets that are scattered around, such as kruidnoten and meringues
On which date do children in Belgium get their presents from Sinterklaas? 6 December
Which language does the Dutch word "surprise" come from? French
What is the pointed hat of Sinterklaas called? a mitre
What is the staff Sinterklaas carries called? a crosier (bishop's staff)
Where does Sinterklaas traditionally record who has been good? in the big book
What do you call a white horse like the one Sinterklaas rides? a grey

Treats and sweets

Which two main ingredients is marzipan made from? almonds and sugar
What is the wooden board called that gives Dutch biscuits their figure? a speculaas board
What is the chewy sweet biscuit often sold in the shape of a doll called? taaitaai
What is taaitaai traditionally made from? rye flour and syrup
What is borstplaat mainly made of? sugar (with cream or butter)
What is the puff pastry with almond paste in the shape of a letter called? a banketletter
What are Dutch schuimpjes made of? sugar and egg white
Which spice is the base of speculaas spice mix? cinnamon
Which chocolate letter sells the most in the Netherlands? the M
What does the "pepper" in pepernoten refer to? spices in general; pepper once stood for all expensive spices

Songs, poems and surprises

Which well-known Sinterklaas song is about the steamboat arriving? "Zie ginds komt de stoomboot"
Who wrote the 1850 book that introduced the steamboat into the tradition? Jan Schenkman
What is that book by Schenkman called? "Sint Nikolaas en zijn knecht"
Which rhyme scheme do Sinterklaas poems usually use? rhyming couplets (aabb)

The history behind the Sint

Which present-day country was Myra, the city of Saint Nicholas, in? Turkey
Who is Saint Nicholas the patron saint of, among others? children, sailors and merchants
Which Italian city holds the relics of Saint Nicholas? Bari
Through which Dutch colony did the tradition reach America? New Amsterdam, later New York
Which story about Saint Nicholas underlies the tradition of presents in a shoe? the story of the three poor daughters he gave a dowry
Which century is the oldest known Dutch mention of the Sinterklaas feast from? the 14th century (a Dordrecht town account from 1360)
Which American writer is the 1823 poem credited to that shaped the modern Santa? Clement Clarke Moore
What does the name Nicholas mean? "victor of the people", from the Greek nike (victory) and laos (people)
In which year was the very first national arrival held? 1934, in Amsterdam

Abroad and on TV

What is Sinterklaas called in Germany? Nikolaus
Which figure is the devilish counterpart of Saint Nicholas in Austria and Bavaria? Krampus
What is Sinterklaas called in Switzerland? Samichlaus, with his helper Schmutzli
In which French region does Saint Nicolas matter more than Father Christmas? Lorraine
What was the name of the Sinterklaas steamboat on Dutch TV from 1985 to 2022? Pakjesboot 12
In which year was the arrival of Sinterklaas first broadcast on television? 1952

From questions to a quiz between the presents

On Sinterklaas evening nobody wants to be the quizmaster marking answers while everyone else waits for their present. With Kwishetwel the question is up on the TV, everyone answers at the same time on their own phone, and the standings keep score for you. Pause when the next surprise is due and pick it up afterwards. What an evening looks like is on the Sinterklaas quiz page.

Start your Sinterklaas quiz for free →See the plans

Further reading: 50 Christmas quiz questions with answers, 50 music quiz questions with answers and fun penalties for the penalty wheel.