In Belgium and the Netherlands it’s Sint-Nicolaas (Sinterklaas) who brings the presents on December 6th. Christmas does have a Santa Claus (Kerstman) because of modern culture, but you’ll mostly see people gifting presents themselves, instead of Santa gifting them.
Yep, these are the Dutch /Flemish names but Wallonia (south Belgium) has the same in French : Saint Nicolas, who brings gifts to kids on Dec 6, and Père Noël at Christmas (but he isn’t as present, and christmas tends to be the family gathering meal and gifts exchange between humans, rather than from the magic winter dude.
This is not completely correct.
In Belgium and the Netherlands it’s Sint-Nicolaas (Sinterklaas) who brings the presents on December 6th. Christmas does have a Santa Claus (Kerstman) because of modern culture, but you’ll mostly see people gifting presents themselves, instead of Santa gifting them.
Yep, these are the Dutch /Flemish names but Wallonia (south Belgium) has the same in French : Saint Nicolas, who brings gifts to kids on Dec 6, and Père Noël at Christmas (but he isn’t as present, and christmas tends to be the family gathering meal and gifts exchange between humans, rather than from the magic winter dude.
Don’t forget Sint-Maarten who brings gifts in November.