Sint Maarten in the Netherlands, and all you need to know!

The weather is getting chillier, and it is time for some spookiness. Halloween has become more prevalent in recent years, but here in the Netherlands, the original door-knocking tradition is Sint Maarten on November 11. Korea has its unique traditions, and the Netherlands is no exception. 

Today, I will share one of my favorite Dutch traditions, Sint Maarten. If you’re new to the Netherlands, here’s all you need to know and prepare for 2024 Sint Maarten. Let’s dive in!

Who is Sint Maarten?

So, here’s the story of Sint Maarten of Tours: He was a Roman soldier who grew up in a military family just after Christianity became legal in the empire. One time, when he was still a young soldier, he shared half of his cloak with a shivering beggar and then had a dream that the beggar was actually Jesus! This vision led him to lay down his sword and shield to dedicate himself to serving the lord. Later, he established a monastery and became a bishop, even though it wasn’t his thing. When Sint Maarten passed away on November 11, 397, he was considered a patron saint for the poor and associated with wine-making. 

What to Celebrate on Sint Maarten?

The feast of Sint Maarten used to be celebrated with a meal of roast goose shared with the homeless to align with what Sint Maarten did to the beggar. Nowadays, it’s a holiday where kids go door-to-door with lanterns (made from paper or large, hollowed-out beets), singing Sint Maarten songs and receiving candy in exchange – it’s like trick-or-treating, but without the costumes (although, I see more and more children wearing costumes these days)!

How to Celebrate Sint Maarten 2024?

Two years ago, I experienced Sint Maarten for the first time. After COVID, the village started celebrating holidays and feasts together again, and it was one of the Dutch festivities I had not experienced yet. When my daughter brought home a lantern she made at school and my son showed me his lantern from daycare, I was curious about its purpose. My husband and daughter explained that the children would come to our home on Sint Maarten’s evening to sing songs and collect candy. It was like Halloween, but different!

I helped my daughter pick out a costume and gave her a sturdy bag to carry all the snacks she expected to collect. I also filled up a basket with treats to welcome those little singing children. Seeing all the kids in their costumes, singing and laughing as they went door-to-door, was so exciting. We had a blast sharing treats and seeing all the happy faces. I will never forget that day – November 11th, Sint-Maarten!

How to Make Lanterns?

There are many ways to make lanterns. For instance, you can wrap a balloon around a light or use paper to create a lantern. See the photo above, a kid with a lantern. A helpful tip is to buy a lantern stick (Amazon affiliate link) to attach to the lantern. You can purchase these sticks at any nearby store.

What are the Songs You Need to Learn?

You can search for “Sint Maarten Liedjes,” and my favorite is “De Leukste Sint Maarten Liedjes” by Kinderliedjes Loulou & Lou. “11 November” and “Sinte Sinte Maarten” are popular songs among children visiting my house.

Get Snacks

When hosting a children’s party, you must provide a bag for each child to collect their snacks. It’s essential to be prepared for guests by having enough snacks to share. I recommend purchasing small bags of Haribo (Amazon affiliate link) and individually wrapped chocolates as they are easy to distribute and maintain hygiene.

Now, Go Outside

So, as I mentioned earlier, kids go door-to-door with lanterns, singing Sint Maarten songs and receiving candy in exchange – it’s like trick-or-treating. People will have a lot of snacks for their children, and children will carry a bag to collect all the tasty snacks. 

Celebrating Sint Maarten as an Expat

Living in a village with many young families with children of the same age is a fantastic experience. The children are still very young and innocent and believe in Sinterklaas, Santa Claus, and superheroes. All parents in my village know what is appropriate for children of this age group. When celebrating Sint Maarten’s evening, all the neighbors come together to plan the event. We organize the evening together so the children can go from door to door at around the same time, after dinner, and finish the festivities before bedtime.

I had an excellent experience, and I love Sint Maarten. I did not have to dress up in Halloween costumes or wear fake blood, and I still enjoyed the Dutch version of trick-or-treating with my young children. It was fantastic! Nobody wants to clean up fake blood or scare their children with monster costumes if they have kids aged five and under. As my children and other children in the neighborhood grow up, we may celebrate Halloween instead, making it more spooky and exciting for older children. But for now, I love how relaxed, joyful, and safe the festival is!