Children get put in a sack by men with black face on in the middle of the night, then get beaten with sticks while still in the bag, and then finally get thrown on a boat to Spain.

No, this isn’t the beginning of Taken 4, it’s Dutch Christmas.

In the Netherlands, Christmas is a little different from the American Christmas we are used to. Children in the United States get coal from jolly old Santa Claus if they’re bad. But in the Netherlands, children get something a little more violent.

Every year on December 5, Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) comes into Dutch cities through the canals and waterways on his steamboat from Spain with his helpers, the Zwarte Pieten (Black Peters). The Zwarte Pieten are described as 5-8 black men that help Sinterklaas deliver all his presents to the Dutch children.

Now, what I said in the beginning is true. The Zwarte Pieten have the Dutch equivalent of the naughty list, in which throughout the year the Zwarte Pieten keep track of the bad children in their book. If the child is bad enough, they will kidnap you, put you in a sack, and send you to Spain with Sinterklaas to teach you how to behave.

The Zwarte Pieten are called racist by many people…

this is what they look like:

But don’t freak out! There are plenty of activists in the Netherlands to change Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) already. The story behind the Zwarte Pieten is that as Sinterklaas’ helpers their faces get dirty with soot from going down chimneys. (If that makes anything better).

Now, let’s talk about some less racially influenced traditions.

Sinterklaas was actually the first “Santa Claus.” The modern American Santa Claus is Coca Cola’s version of Sinterklaas! Sinterklaas has been around for over 400 years in the Netherlands.

Also, Sinterklaas does not come from the North Pole like his distant cousin, Santa. Sinterklaas prefers places with warmer weather. During the year, Sinterklaas sits back with the Zwarte Pieten in Madrid, Spain. Why would you want to freeze with penguins when you can sunbathe in Ibiza?

The Dutch celebrate this “Christmas” early, because the 25th of December is reserved for more religious activities. The 5th is actually Sinterklaasavond (St. Nicholas’ Eve).

So, if you want a free trip to Spain, call Zwarte Piet and good ol’ Sinterklaas. If you’re bad enough you may score a free trip. (Terms may apply: being beaten with a stick and/or kidnapped).