In Continental Europe, Saint Nickolas is celebrated on December 6th. St Nick is the predecessor of Father Christmas, and in Holland he is just as important for Children as his made-in-America counterpart. Every year St Nick “arrives” (for the Dutch, he arrives from Spain) in the Netherlands at a different city, by boat, known as the Steam Ship.

Its quite an event, with thousands of people, many of them young children, lining the streets and singing songs. The whole event is televised on Netherlands TV. It generally starts at 12 O’clock noon.

This Year Sint Nick, who is accompanied by a whole bunch of “Moors” (people with their faces painted black, acting as Moors, from Northern Africa, will arrive in Arnhem. So if you fancy getting on TV, and a fun afternoon then get over to see him arriving in Arnhem.

This coming Saturday (13^th November). It starts at 12 noon at the side of the river in Arnhem centre. (Follow the kids from the station!)