Families flock to downtown Holland to see Sinterklaas' return

Sentinel Staff
Children pose with Sinterklaas during his annual appearance on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, at the Kerstmarkt in downtown Holland, Mich.
Children pose with Sinterklaas during his annual appearance on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, at the Kerstmarkt in downtown Holland, Mich.

HOLLAND — The return of Sinterklaas, a classic Dutch figure based on Saint Nicholas, drew hundreds of families to downtown Holland Friday evening, as he posed with children and led them through the Kerstmarkt.

Children received gift bags and lanterns to walk with as Sinterklaas led them in a short parade from the civic center to the Kerstmarkt, Holland's traditional outdoor holiday market. There, Sinterklaas led the singing of "Sinterklaas Kapoentje," a classic Dutch carol.

The event returned to Holland in 2021, after being canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sinterklaas leads a parade of children in song through the downtown Kerstmarkt on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Holland, Mich.
Sinterklaas leads a parade of children in song through the downtown Kerstmarkt on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Holland, Mich.
Hundreds of families visited the downtown Kerstmarkt on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, to pose with Sinterklaas, a classic Dutch character known in Christmas tales.
Hundreds of families visited the downtown Kerstmarkt on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, to pose with Sinterklaas, a classic Dutch character known in Christmas tales.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Families flock to downtown Holland to see Sinterklaas' return