Sinterklaas quiz for pakjesavond
A quiz on the TV while everyone plays along on their own phone: the perfect in-between during the Dutch Sinterklaas evening of surprises and poems. No app needed, free to start.
Why host your Sinterklaas quiz with Kwishetwel
- Fills the evening just right: a short round between two surprises or a full quiz after the presents.
- Joining is simple: scan the QR code, pick a name, play.
- Points are counted automatically, so nobody has to keep score of who is winning.
- The penalty wheel fits Sinterklaas surprisingly well: the loser reads the next poem or does the dishes.
- Fun with colleagues too: the office Sinterklaas gathering instantly gets a competition.
Sample questions for your Sinterklaas quiz
Eight Sinterklaas questions to get in the mood (answers in italics):
- On which date is pakjesavond, the Dutch gift evening? December 5.
- From which country does Sinterklaas arrive by steamboat, according to tradition? Spain.
- What was the long-time name of Sinterklaas's horse, before Ozosnel? Amerigo.
- Which historical figure is Sinterklaas based on? Nicholas of Myra, a bishop from the third and fourth century.
- What do children traditionally put in their shoe for Sinterklaas's horse? A carrot or some hay.
- What is the proper name for the small, hard, round spiced cookies scattered at Sinterklaas? Kruidnoten. Pepernoten are the soft, chewy chunks.
- Which American holiday figure evolved from the Dutch Sinterklaas? Santa Claus.
- On which date is the name day of Saint Nicholas? December 6.
Want more? Our 40 Sinterklaas quiz questions with answers has forty more, covering traditions, treats, songs and the history of the Sint. Enough inspiration? On Kwishetwel you host a complete quiz on the TV in minutes, with automatic scoring. No reading out loud: everyone plays along at the same time on their own phone.
Sinterklaas with adults: a quiz alongside the surprises
Celebrating Sinterklaas with adults, with lots, handmade surprises and poems? Then a quiz is the perfect palate cleanser: play a round between the gifts, and whoever is last in the standings reads the next poem. It keeps everyone engaged, even while someone else's surprise is being unwrapped.
How it works
- You start the quiz on the TV or laptop and show the join code and QR code.
- Everyone joins on their own phone; sharing one phone as a duo works too.
- You play the rounds and finish with the final standings, and for the brave: the penalty wheel.
How the quiz fits between the surprises
Pakjesavond has its own rhythm; the quiz works best in short blocks between the surprises and poems. For example:
- Pepernoten and joining (5 min): quiz on the TV, everyone scans the QR code; whoever isn't there yet simply joins later.
- First block (1 round, ~15 min): warm up with questions about Sinterklaas himself; fun to see who really knows the traditions.
- Surprises and poems: the quiz simply waits, you set the pace per question, so nothing has to be rushed.
- Second block (1-2 rounds, ~20 min): after the biggest pile of presents another round, for example music or word association.
- Finale (~10 min): the final standings on the TV and, to wrap up, the penalty wheel for whoever is at the bottom.
Buy a Sinterklaas quiz or host it yourself?
Ready-made Sinterklaas quizzes as PDFs cost a few euros, but then someone has to read out questions, collect answers and keep score all evening, exactly when your hands are full of presents and poems.
With Kwishetwel you put the quiz on the TV and the scoreboard keeps score by itself. Free to start, and pausing for a surprise is always possible; what the subscriptions cost is below.
What does it cost?
Starting for free is always possible: multiple choice and word association, penalty wheel included. Want more round types, like music rounds or map questions? Subscriptions start at €3.99 per month and can be cancelled monthly, so a single month around pakjesavond is fine.
Frequently asked questions
Do players need an app or account?
No. Players scan the QR code or type the join code at kwishetwel.com/join in their browser. They pick a name and a photo or animal avatar and play right away.
Can children join the Sinterklaas quiz?
The ready-made questions are written for an adult group, but older children often play along fine, especially as a duo with an adult on one phone.
How do I combine the quiz with surprises and poems?
Play a short round between the surprises: you control the pace and can pause at any moment. It keeps the evening moving without overshadowing the gifts.
Does this work for the office Sinterklaas party too?
Yes, exactly the same: one screen or projector, colleagues join with their phones. Also fun as a warm-up before the gift exchange starts.
Also fun: a Christmas quiz for the holidays, a family quiz for the whole family, or our 100+ free pub quiz questions.