Sinterklaas arrival in Maastricht
Intocht van Sinterklaas in Maastricht50°51′ N 5°42′ EProcessionNov 14, 2026Dates projected
Maastricht's Sinterklaas arrival brings the saint in by boat to the Kesselskade on the Maas, and it suits families staying in the city in mid-November, though the 2026 date is projected and the market season on the Vrijthof only starts two weeks later. If the pattern holds it falls on Saturday 14 November 2026.
Dates and hours
- November 14, 2026Projected from past yearschecked Oct 10, 2026
- November 15, 2025Announcedsourcechecked Oct 10, 2026
Date rule: 2nd-sat-before totensonntag
In Maastricht Sinterklaas arrives on the river. In 2025 his boat tied up at the Kesselskade just before 11:00, and he then crossed the Sint Servaesbrug into Wyck and back before winding through the old centre to the town hall on the Markt. The local organizers go by the name Sinterklaas in Maastricht.
Maastricht changed how its Pieten look after the protests against Zwarte Piet's blackface make-up. By 2016 the city already had more Roetveegpieten in its parade, and in 2021 its arrival featured Roetveegpieten, whose faces carry only soot smudges.
Worth knowing
- Check the route before you go: in 2025 it crossed the river twice, so the Wyck side of the Sint Servaesbrug also saw the parade.
Quick answers about Sinterklaas arrival in Maastricht
When does Sinterklaas arrive in Maastricht in 2026?
Maastricht had not published its 2026 date in October 2026. Its arrival has fallen on the national arrival's Saturday in recent years, which projects to Saturday 14 November 2026.
Where does Sinterklaas land in Maastricht?
In 2025 Sinterklaas landed by boat at the Kesselskade at 10:50 and the procession ended at the town hall on the Markt.
Where is the national Sinterklaas arrival in 2026?
The 2026 national Sinterklaas arrival is in Grave, in North Brabant, on Saturday 14 November, according to the NTR's announcement reported by Hart van Nederland. Maastricht holds its own arrival on the river.
What are the opening hours of Sinterklaas arrival in Maastricht?
Sinterklaas arrival in Maastricht is open in 2025 the boat moored at the Kesselskade at 10:50 and the day ran from about 10:30 to 15:00. The route crossed the Sint Servaesbrug into Wyck and back, then wound through the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein and the Grote Staat to the town hall on the Markt.