taken in late november 2007...

The Dutch has their very own tradition in December, Sinterklaas. This man should not be mistaken for Santa Claus even if they do have kind of the same job. Sinterklaas does not come from the North Pole and he does not have reindeers, brownies or a red cap with a tuft. Sinterklaas lives in Spain and he has a white horse. Instead of the brownies he has Zwarte Pieten, Black Piets, who assist him on his journey, little helpers with dark skin and colourful clothes.

They all board a ship sailing from Spain to a port (different every year) in the Netherlands and when arriving, they are welcomed by the mayor and citizens. They arrive sometime in mid November just in time for the annual parade which is the start of the "Sinterklaas season".

More in http://www.holland.nl/uk/holland/sights/saint_nicholas.html

You have been sent 26 pictures on the Sinterklaas season's annual
parade in Amsterdam.

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