Sinterklaas is the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was a bishop who lived and worked in Asia Minor. He was born in the in 271 AD and died in the year 343 AD. In the year 1998 he would have been 1728 years old .

St. Nicholas was a bishop of the Greek Orthodox church who lived in Myra in Anatolia which is now called Turkey. According to the legend he saved his town from starvation and he revived three dead children and he offered dowries to very poor girls. Sailors started believing in St. Nicholas because three sailors swore that he had calmed a very rough sea when they were at sea and in trouble because of bad weather conditions. Slowly people all over Europe started honouring and respecting St. Nicholas. Children, bakers, sailors, scholars, prisoners, merchants etc. started to believe in him.

St. Nicholas was a bishop of the Greek Orthodox church who lived in Myra, Turkey. External link: Click on the graphic to learn more about his life and legend.

Even the harbour of Amsterdam decided to honour him by building a church on Prins Hendrikkade. Saint Nicholas became especially known for the good deeds he did for children. Today he is the patron saint of sailors as well as the patron saint of the city of Amsterdam.

In Holland people believe that St. Nicholas comes from Spain. This must be because in the 17th century Holland was famous for its navigation so the Dutch sailors had plenty of contact with the Spanish sailors. Also, Holland was ruled by Spain in the 16th century. The Spanish sailors believed in St. Nicholas as their guardian Saint. They must have told the Dutch sailors about this and the Dutch sailors must have taken that back to Holland. In Holland the name given to St. Nicholas is "Sinterklaas".

In Holland St. Nicholas rides on a white horse    because a long time ago the rich men thought that if they would ride on a white horse they would look wealthy and special. The white horse also gives St. Nicholas this special look. St. Nicholas is now a very old man. He has a white flowing beard and has a long metal staff He wears a hop'smiter (regal looking head-dress) and a red cape.  

External link: Click on the graphic for more information about Sinterklaas.

St. Nicholas has a group of black helpers" called zwarte pieten.   This might have been because St. Nicholas comes from Spain and the Moors who were in power in Spain for several hundred years were dark skinned.