The story of Sinterklaas (Sint Nicolaas) is of course well known, there is plenty of information on the internet about this typical Dutch tradition. Although it has changed over the years due to changes in society e.g. the arrival of radio, television, internet as well as an increasingly more multicultural Dutch population, it is still very uniquely Dutch and a mix of the old and the new.
In the DACC archives is a photograph of Sinterklaas celebration at the home of Johanna Stas with Cor Merckx as Sinterklaas. (Cor Mercks a well-known figure in the Dutch community as president of the NSW Klaverjas Federation).
Sinterklaas at the home of the Budde family in Roseville, Sydney, in 1984. Sinterklaas is Peter van Bruinessen en Pieterman is Astrid van Bruinessen.
Rias Nicolaas Spee was born in Gouda on 28 May 1926. He was the son of Cornelis Bastiaan Spee and Johanna Hendrika Maria Nederhoed. His father was born in Gouda on 13 July 1901 and Read more
Pieter Brandwijk was born in Sliedrecht on 1 May 1901. He was the son of Gerardus Brandwijk, a ship’s captain, and Neeltje Vuijk. On 15 November 1924, he married Arina Ariaantje de Vroomen, who had Read more
Abraham Vermeer, known as Abram, was born in Vlaardingen on 9 March 1923. He was the son of Abraham Vermeer and Leuntje Sluijter. Vlaardingen’s history was closely connected with fishing, shipping and maritime employment. Abram Read more
