Watch the Steamboat Come Into Scheveningen Harbour
The crowd starts gathering along the harbour edge well before anything is visible on the water. Children sit on shoulders, parents balance paper cups of hot chocolate, and the whole quayside hums with the same question: is that the boat? Then the smokestack appears, and the Pakjesboot steams in carrying Sinterklaas and his Pieten — the 79th time the bishop has arrived in Scheveningen's harbour. This is the anchor of your 14 November 2026 visit, and it is free to watch.
- The intocht (arrival): Saturday 14 November 2026, all day, centred on Scheveningen harbour. Sinterklaas arrives by steamboat, then leads a procession of Pieten and praalwagens (floats) through the streets into the city centre.
- Get there early: Arrive 30–45 minutes before the boat is due for a clear sightline. Crowds along the water route fill fast, and there is often a long wait between the boat becoming visible and actually docking.
- Pick your spot: The calmer viewing is near the start of the water route; the final stages are the most crowded. Bring snacks and something for young children to sit or stand on.
- Check the schedule: Exact timings for The Hague are published closer to November on sinterklaasindenhaag.nl — look for the Havenprogramma (harbour programme) and Rijtoer (procession) sections.
Follow the Rijtoer Through the City Streets
Once Sinterklaas has disembarked, the rijtoer carries the whole spectacle inland — Pieten, floats and music moving from Scheveningen into The Hague's streets. Line the route anywhere along it and you get the parade at close range without the harbour crush. Roads close for the procession, so plan your crossing points and check city traffic announcements in the week before.
- What it is: A procession of Pieten and praalwagens through the streets of The Hague, following the harbour arrival.
- Getting around: Public transport is busy and roads close for parades. Check city traffic announcements the week of the event.
- Free and open: The arrival parades are free and open to the public — no tickets required.
Keep the Season Going Until Pakjesavond
Arrival day is only the opening act. The Dutch Sinterklaas season runs from the intocht all the way to Pakjesavond on 5 December, and The Hague keeps it alive in the weeks between. If you can't make 14 November, the national arrival is in Grave this year — the first time in 26 years the landelijke intocht has been in a Brabant municipality — and it's broadcast live by NTR on NPO Zapp (NPO 3) from 12:00, presented by Merel Westrik with reporters Stephanie van Eer and Jeroen Kramer. Most other towns hold their own smaller intocht on the Saturday or Sunday either side of the national one, with routes and timings confirmed only a few weeks ahead.
- Het Sinterklaasjournaal: The daily children's news build-up begins Monday 9 November, airing nightly at 18:00 until Pakjesavond on 5 December.
- Pakjesavond: 5 December — the gift evening that closes the season.
- Beyond The Hague: Rotterdam's arrival falls on the same Saturday, docking at Willemsplein around midday and parading via Boompjes and Blaak to Grotekerkplein, about 2.5 km, drawing roughly 25,000 people. Amsterdam's follows on Sunday 15 November, 10:00–~15:30.
Eat and Drink Your Way Through Mid-November
Mid-November in The Hague is cold and often wet, so build your day around warming stops. The harbour and city-centre streets fill with seasonal stalls during the intocht, and the traditional Sinterklaas treats — pepernoten, speculaas, chocolate letters — appear in shops and markets across the city from the moment the season starts. Wrap up properly, keep something warm in hand, and treat the weather as part of the ritual.
- Dress for it: Expect cold, often wet weather in mid-November. Waterproof layers and sturdy shoes make the long waits comfortable.
- Fuel the wait: Bring snacks for the harbour, where the gap between spotting the boat and it docking can be long.
- Seasonal sweets: Pepernoten, speculaas and chocolate letters are everywhere once the season begins — stock up at markets and bakeries in the city centre.
Plan Around the Day, Not Just the Hour
The intocht is organised by DB Evenementen with support from "De Vrienden van Sinterklaas", and the full programme — Havenprogramma and Rijtoer — is published on sinterklaasindenhaag.nl as November approaches. Book your travel and accommodation early, since the whole region turns out on the same weekend, and check the site for the hour-by-hour schedule before you commit to a viewing spot. Whether you're on the Scheveningen quayside or somewhere along the rijtoer, the day rewards a little forward planning and a lot of patience.