Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas is the legendary figure Dutch children come to rely on for candies and gifts (if they're good) and lumps of coal  (if they're bad)!  The good saint comes around to Dutch homes in the weeks before December 5th to listen at the household chimney about the comportment of the children. 

Then on the special night (Dec. 5/6) he comes to deliver the goodies (I've never heard of any Dutch children getting lumps of coal, which must be a consequence of their generally excellent behaviour!)   

The good saint was born around 270 A.D. of wealthy parents in a Turkish town.   Upon the death of his parents, Nicholas, inherited their wealth and, St. Francis-like, gave it all away to people in poverty and need.   Later he became the Christian archbishop of Myra.

By Dutch lore Nicholas comes with his white charger to The Netherland by boat from Spain.  There are songs about this arrival.   Here's one verse:

Zie ginds komt de stoomboot uit Spanje weer aan. (see there comes the steamship again from Spain)

Hij brengt on Sint Niklaas, ik zie hem al staan.  (It's bringing us St. Nicholas, I can see him standing)

Hoe huppelt zijn paardje het dek op en neer. (How his little horse is skipping up & down on the deck!)

Hoe waaien de wimpels al heen en al weer.  (How streamers are waving back & forth!) 

(The poetry works better in Dutch!!)

I can remember being in Grade 1 at the local Christian school and we were treated to a visit of the good Saint with his servant Piet.  We didn't get presents, but Piet would throw "peepernoten:" (peppernuts) into the classroom for us to gather. 

Piet - Zwarte Piet - has become a controversial character in this Dutch tradition.  His origins may go back to the days of the Moors in Spain to come north with Spanish sailors during the time of Spanish domination of The Netherlands.   Who knows exactly!   As I was growing up and even today, "black Peter" is still (too often) portrayed by a white person with "black face".   

Canada knows well how much "black face" creates justified controversy.   About a decade ago I wrote to the editor of the Dutch newspaper in Ontario to urge him to edit away that part of the tradition.   He refused.  We cancelled our subscription.   There are too many vestiges of slavery, anti-black racism, and stereotypical allusions to retain that part of the tradition.

To learn more about  Sinterklaas arriving by boat in Amsterdam and its traditions (and controversy), go to:   https://www.amsterdamsights.com/events/saintnicholas.html

In our household we continue with remnants of the Sinterklaas tradition.   We send chocolate letters or hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles) on behalf of Sint Nikolaas  to the Canadian nephews, nieces, and grandkids, sons & partners; small Dutch gifts to siblings and partners;  put our wooden shoes and a carrot near the fireplace or substitute;  and play the aging vinyl recording of Sinterklaas songs learned as a child.   

December 6th is the Saint's "birthday" - the day when he journeyed to the new life in God in the year 340 A.D.  Blessings of the day to one and all.