Sinterklaas Festival in the Dutch Quarter Potsdam

Dutch Christmas in Brandenburg

There are few places in Germany where a saint in a red bishop's robe arrives in a city center on a white horse — Potsdam's Dutch Quarter is one of them. The Sinterklaas Festival, organized by the association for the promotion of Dutch culture in Potsdam, transforms the Mittelstraße and surrounding alleys into a small, very distinct advent market with Dutch roots every second weekend of Advent.

The Mittelstraße as a Backdrop

The Dutch Quarter is a unique urban ensemble: 134 two-story brick houses, built between 1733–1740 under Frederick William I to attract Dutch craftsmen to Potsdam. Today, the quarter with its cafés, small galleries, and boutiques is a magnet for travelers. During the Sinterklaas weekend, around 100 stalls are added — offering Dutch and regional products: herring sandwiches, Kniepertjes (thin waffle rolls), Stroopwafels, Poffertjes, Genever, mulled wine, handmade crafts, and of course, wooden shoes.

The Arrival of Sinterklaas

The highlight of the weekend is the arrival of Sinterklaas on Saturday. The Dutch Saint Nicholas rides — as tradition dictates — on his white steed into the Dutch Quarter and is welcomed with music, children's choirs, and the ringing of bells. A police escort, small parades, and a lovingly staged program make the reception a family experience. Afterwards, Sinterklaas visits the children, distributes peppernuts, and collects wish lists.

The Association and the Jan Bouman House

The festival is organized by the association for the promotion of Dutch culture in Potsdam e.V., which is based in the Jan Bouman Haus at Mittelstraße 8 — one of the oldest houses in the quarter and today a museum of Dutch history in Potsdam. Admission is free.

Potsdam — A City with a Dutch Past

The connection between Potsdam and the Netherlands dates back to the 18th century. Frederick William I invited Dutch construction workers to Brandenburg to supply his growing residential city with skilled labor. This history is visible in the Dutch Quarter — and the Sinterklaas Festival is the annual celebration of this bond.