Sinterklaas made his official entrance on Brussels Grand Place last weekend and the cheery face of the festive season made his rounds of the city's rooftops to deliver sweets and gifts to all well-behaved children last night. Activities in his honour continue all day today.
Sinterklaas made his tour under a cover of rain and clouds last night after children across Belgium left a shoe in the living room (ideally at the fireplace) on the evening of 5 December. They will wake up to presents, as well as speculoos, chocolate Sint figures, chocolate coins, marzipan and tangerines – as long as they have been good throughout the year!
Presents and sweets
This year, children are extra lucky because 6 December falls on a Wednesday: meaning a big part of their mornings at school will be spent talking about which presents they received, while they have the afternoon off to play with their new gifts.
In the city centre, the Sint's arrival will be marked by Manneken Pis, who will be dressed as him from 09:00 to 18:00. Additionally, several Sinterklaas activities are being organised around Brussels on Wednesday afternoon.
At the Docks Bruxsel shopping centre, for example, Sinterklaas will be posted between 13:00 and 18:30. In a large gingerbread house, he will talk to children to find out if they have been good over the past year. If they have been, they will get a few small presents such as sweets, comic books and coloured pencils, among others.
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From 14:00 to 18:00, the Le Brass cultural centre in the municipality of Forest will also offer fun and creative workshops for families linked to Sinterklaas: screen printing, introduction to animated cinema, illustration, arts and crafts, workshops that combine art with plants, and concerts for children. Everyone will also get a snack from the Sint.
One of Sinterklaas' many helpers will also be in the Cora shopping centre in the municipality of Anderlecht, where children can go and tell him their wishes on Wednesday afternoon. The event will be taking place between 14:00 and 18:00, and all children who attend will receive a little surprise.
Lastly, Queen Nikkolah – a black, female version of Sinterklaas created by artist Laura Nsengiyumva – will also be visiting children in and around Brussels. Those who want to meet her on Wednesday will have to go to café Het Groot Ongelijk in Kessel-Lo (Leuven). Children who can wait until the weekend, however, can go see her in the Zinnema cultural centre in Anderlecht.
