Sinterklaas is in a generous mood this year and spends an average of 84 euros on gifts. Many Sinterklaas have listened to the call of mayors and avoided the shopping streets. More than half of the presents have been purchased online and that is the first time, ING’s Economics Department reports Friday.
Sinterklaas is in a generous mood this year and spends an average of 84 euros on gifts. Many Sinterklaas have listened to the call of mayors and avoided the shopping streets. More than half of the gifts have been purchased online and that is the first time, the ING Economics Department reports Friday.
Only 13 percent of the more than fourteen thousand ING customers surveyed have bought all the Sinterklaas presents in the shopping street. That was double last year with more than a quarter of the people.
The number of assistant Sinterklaas who no longer take to the streets at all to fill the bag also doubled, to 14 percent. 54 percent of all gifts were bought online, compared to 38 percent last year.
The Auxiliary Sinterklaas are also more generous in this Corona year. “On average, 7 euros more is spent on gifts than last year”, says ING economist Marten van Garderen. Last year that was 77 euros. There are major differences between how much is spent on Pakjesavond. “For one in five it is limited to 20 euros”, says Van Garderen.
Almost a third, on the other hand, packs a punch with more than 100 euros in gifts in the bag. Sinterklaas is losing out again as a party with the presents. “Compared to Santa,” says ING. Slightly less than one in five only celebrates Sinterklaas with gifts. “At over a quarter, only Santa Claus comes along with gifts. Just over a fifth celebrates both with gifts.”
Logically, it is mainly the thirties and forties with children who still throw gifts. “People in their twenties and fifties celebrate Christmas more often. The group that does not give presents at all is largest among the elderly. More than half of people in their seventies celebrate neither Sinterklaas, nor Christmas with presents.”
