Categories: Kermis

Gelukkig Sinterklaasavond

Today is a special day for two reasons. First, it is Sinterklaas Avond, an important holiday in the Netherlands and Belgium. Second, it marks the launching of a new feature for Velominati which we are calling the Kermis.

A Kermis is a carnival usually marked by a criterium bicycle race held around the perimeter of the festival grounds. Because of its repetitive nature, we are applying this name to a new feature allowing us to post articles from our archives which we feel are worth revisiting, either to examine how our viewpoints may (or may not) have evolved since the article’s original posting or, as is the case today, there is simply a fun reason to repost a past work. You can access the original article and discussion via the links in the footer of the Kermis.

We hope you enjoy the feature, and we kick it off with this little view into one of the Dutch traditions I grew up with and cherish to this day. On behalf of the Keepers, I wish you a Gelukkig Sinterklaas.

Yours in Cycling,

Frank

[kermis id=6581/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Cesco says:

Dec 5 2013 at 9:17 am

Happy Sinterklaas! I miss pepernoten so much tonight..
wiscot says:

Dec 5 2013 at 9:50 am

If you want a laugh, read David Sedaris's piece on Christmas in Holland.

Here's audio of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYdpte1W0vk
RedRanger says:

Dec 5 2013 at 11:03 am

Shimano Di2 cross bike? My how things have changed.
DerHoggz says:

Dec 5 2013 at 11:28 am

Ah, so blackface is okay if it is traditional?
TommyTubolare says:

Dec 5 2013 at 12:13 pm

Frank

Good idea kereltje. Have a good one!
frank says:

Dec 5 2013 at 12:24 pm

@DerHoggz

Ah, so blackface is okay if it is traditional?

Three things: My modern interpretation, its soot from the chimneys he's clambering up and down - not blackface; its fucking Europe; and its The Fucking Netherlands. The normal rules of reason don't apply.
frank says:

Dec 5 2013 at 12:25 pm

@RedRanger

Shimano Di2 cross bike? My how things have changed.

Isn't that funny? The way I built the Kermis precludes me from editing the content (for good reason) without editing the original. Really felt a tinge of WTF when I re-read that.
Jim Vance says:

Dec 5 2013 at 12:41 pm

Here in Nova Scotia Canada a local politician of Dutch descent learned a lesson about being in the public eye and found himself apologizing for posting a photo of him with Zwarte Piet at a local celebration of the Dutch tradition. A tearful Joachim Stroink (owner of an outdoor equipment shop and recently elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Halifax Chebucto) stated "I do acknowledge that the whole blackface culture, there is no place for that in Nova Scotia, nor in our culture. There was no malicious intent. This is a Dutch tradition I grew up with and never in my deepest heart thought that this would be portrayed in this manner . . ." Local media reported: "But Jessica Silversmith, director of the Anti-Discrimination Bureau for Amsterdam, said it's time for the Netherlands to move on from the tradition. For many people at least in Amsterdam it's not acceptable anymore," she said. "He's seen as a slave ... his role is also a problem." Silversmith told CBC's Maritime Noon that her group heard 240 complaints about Zwarte Piet in 2012. It's so strange to see a Dutch immigrant living in Canada and he's introducing Black Pete while in his former home country we don't like Black Pete. It's remarkable," she said. Traditions are most of the time never innocent. You have to look behind the tradition."

Tradition? Sensitively to others? Happy holidays!
wiscot says:

Dec 5 2013 at 1:30 pm

@Jim Vance

Here in Nova Scotia Canada a local politician of Dutch descent learned a lesson about being in the public eye and found himself apologizing for posting a photo of him with Zwarte Piet at a local celebration of the Dutch tradition. A tearful Joachim Stroink (owner of an outdoor equipment shop and recently elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Halifax Chebucto) stated "I do acknowledge that the whole blackface culture, there is no place for that in Nova Scotia, nor in our culture. There was no malicious intent. This is a Dutch tradition I grew up with and never in my deepest heart thought that this would be portrayed in this manner . . ." Local media reported: "But Jessica Silversmith, director of the Anti-Discrimination Bureau for Amsterdam, said it's time for the Netherlands to move on from the tradition. For many people at least in Amsterdam it's not acceptable anymore," she said. "He's seen as a slave ... his role is also a problem." Silversmith told CBC's Maritime Noon that her group heard 240 complaints about Zwarte Piet in 2012. It's so strange to see a Dutch immigrant living in Canada and he's introducing Black Pete while in his former home country we don't like Black Pete. It's remarkable," she said. Traditions are most of the time never innocent. You have to look behind the tradition."

Tradition? Sensitively to others? Happy holidays!

Don't get me started on Christmas "traditions" FFS.
gordo says:

Dec 5 2013 at 1:36 pm

Tak Frank..Een geweldige December.Drink veel bier na lange koude ritten!

Hope to meet you sometime at Brandford's