BSN News & Jobs - Don't forget to put your shoe out!

At this time of year, many expats, particularly those with children, end up celebrating a hybrid of different holiday traditions. There are the traditions they grew up with and the traditions that they might adopt from their host country. In the Netherlands, Christmas is still an occasion, but for children, the main event is the birthday of Sinterklaas (or, Sint as he is affectionately known) on 5 December. On this date, Sint visits hundreds of homes, supermarkets and schools throughout the country. Despite his busy schedule, he still found time to drop in on the BSN and join our celebrations.

For those who don’t know him, Sint has a long white beard and wears a red cape and the traditional ceremonial head-dress of a bishop, also red. He is always accompanied by a variety of helpers, all known as ‘Piet’. The Piets each have their own area of expertise; for example there is 'Wegwijs’ (Navigation) Piet, 'Schoorsteenklim’ (Chimney climbing) Piet and 'Rommel’ (Making a Mess) Piet, who definitely visited a few of our classrooms.

BSN students had left theirs shoes out according to tradition, hoping to find gifts inside from the Sint (for good behaviour). They weren’t disappointed so apparently BSN students are all very well behaved. The alternative would have been a kidnapping–being taken back with Sint to Madrid where he lives…which actually doesn’t sound so terrible.

What are your festive traditions?