by Loes, age 8 from Utrecht, Netherlands, asks Santa about cookies, the Dom Tower, and Sinterklaas’s televised arrival by boat.
Dear Santa, my name is Loes, and I am eight years old. I live in Utrecht, Netherlands, where my opa says the tallest church tower in the whole country rises right above our city center.
Dear Loes, a tower that tall makes for one of the easiest landmarks to spot on my entire route, your opa picked a truly striking hometown.
Santa, I have three questions.
Does Santa like cookies? My oma bakes a huge batch of speculaas every single year.
I love cookies of every kind, Loes, and speculaas with its warm spices is a particular favorite of mine. Your oma’s baking sounds like it deserves a very generous helping this year.
My opa says the Dom Tower here in Utrecht is the tallest church tower in the entire Netherlands. Is that true?
It is true, Loes, the Dom Tower rises higher than any other church tower in the whole country. I always give it a proud, careful pass on my way to your rooftop.
My opa says my colleague Sinterklaas officially arrives by boat here in the Netherlands every year, with the whole event shown on television. Is that true?
It is true, Loes, Sinterklaas makes his official yearly arrival by boat, a joyful nationally televised tradition celebrated by families across the country. That kind of shared, joyful anticipation is really a wonderful way to kick off the season.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Loes Bakker
Utrecht, Netherlands
P.S. Will you save room for my oma’s speculaas this year?
Always, Loes, spiced cookies deserve a very special place in the sleigh.
