The annual Amsterdam Sinterklaas arrival is scheduled to take place on Sunday 15 November 2026. This year marks the 88th edition of the city parade.
Sinterklaas will stay in the city until pakjesavond following the event. The celebration traditionally features a boat journey over the water alongside a land route through the city.
Arrival parade and route details
Exact timings and the official route for this year have not yet been announced by organisers. During the previous edition, the procession began at the Omval, travelled down the Amstel toward the Scheepvaartmuseum, moved through the city centre, and ended at Leidseplein.
The national arrival takes place one day earlier, on Saturday 14 November, in Grave in Noord-Brabant. Amsterdam follows on the Sunday immediately after the national event.
Call for parade volunteers
Organisers are currently looking for volunteers to take part in the Amsterdam parade as Pieten. The role requires being active throughout the day, which runs from 6:00 to approximately 17:00.
Participants aged 14 or 15 must be accompanied by a registered Piet aged 18 or over; those aged 16 or older may participate independently, and anyone under 18 must complete the application with a parent or guardian.
Applications are due by 27 September and must include either a self-written poem or a video of up to one minute; attendance at the mandatory briefing on 29 October is also required. Apply here: https://www.sintinamsterdam.nl/pieten/
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