Sinterklaas (or Sint Nicolaas) is the Dutch Santa Claus.
He lives in Madrid, Spain and every year mid November he and his Zwarte Pieten (black peters) arrive in Holland on a steamboot. He has a white horse, Americo.
When he is in Holland children are allowed (a few times at least) to put their shoes in the evening just before bedtime. In the shoe the children leave something for the horse, a carrot, an apple, some water or so. They sings songs, and at night Sinterklaas and the Zwarte Pieten pick up the food for the horse and put a little present in the shoe.
December 5 is the big day. During the daytime many Sinterklasen will visit schools and day care centers. At night it is Sint Nicolas’eve and Sint will bring loads of presents to all the children (and adults). December 6 Sinterklaas leaves silently again to Spain.

Sint also visited the day care center of my youngest son.