Pakjesavond 2026: the Dutch gift evening on 5 December

Pakjesavond, the gift evening that closes the Sinterklaas season, falls on Saturday 5 December 2026. Families exchange presents at home in the evening, often with personalised poems, and because 5 December is a Saturday this year, the usual squeeze between work and celebration does not apply for most people.

The 2026 season at a glance

Broadcaster NTR has confirmed the season timeline: Het Sinterklaasjournaal starts on Monday 9 November 2026, the national intocht takes place on Saturday 14 November in Grave, Noord-Brabant, and the season builds to pakjesavond on 5 December.

Practical information

5 December is not an official public holiday: the date is absent from the government’s list of official holidays, and no Dutch law turns holidays into guaranteed days off in any case; your CAO or employment contract decides. The Winkeltijdenwet contains no early-closing rule for 5 December either, so the normal shopping window of 06:00 to 22:00 applies. Many shops and workplaces do wind down early on pakjesavond, but that is custom, not a legal requirement.

Common questions

Is pakjesavond a public holiday?

No. 5 December is a normal day in law; the celebration happens in the evening.

Do shops close early on 5 December?

Not by law. Early closing is a choice individual shops and employers make; check locally if it matters for your evening.

When does the Sinterklaas season start in 2026?

Het Sinterklaasjournaal returns on Monday 9 November, and the national arrival is on Saturday 14 November in Grave.

How does pakjesavond relate to Christmas?

They are separate occasions. Pakjesavond on 5 December is the traditional Dutch gift evening; Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 25 and 26 December, are the official public holidays.