As the Sinterklaasjournaal began its daily broadcast on NPO Zapp, the program faced criticism regarding its content.
Psychologist David Blom has rebranded the broadcast the “Sinterstressjournaal,” arguing that the show’s reliance on high-stakes drama is inflicting unnecessary tension on young viewers.
Blom contends that the program has abandoned the traditional, intimate roots of the holiday. Where once a child might hear the story from a parent while sharing pepernoten, the show now enforces a singular, standardized narrative across the country.
“It is a story you should hear multiple times from your father or mother while eating pepernoten in a circle,” Blom told NPO Radio 1. He views the broadcast as a “passive” experience that “hijacks” a child’s imagination.
The critique focuses on the show’s increasingly volatile plotlines. Blom points to the inclusion of demolition, disasters, and hospitalizations as narrative choices that mimic “clickbait,” keeping children in a state of constant, heightened excitement.
Beyond the screen, Blom warns that the ubiquity of the program—compounded by social media—creates a suffocating social pressure. For families who opt out of the daily viewing, the show’s dominance makes it difficult to remain part of the collective holiday experience.
Not all experts agree that the show is a source of harm. Kirsten Bilderbeek, a psychologist, argues that children possess a natural resilience that critics often overlook. “I wonder if the child’s experience is actually being hijacked,” Bilderbeek told NPO Radio 1.
She suggests that young children naturally blur the lines between fantasy and reality, allowing them to engage with the broadcast without losing their belief in the traditional visit from Sinterklaas.
Bilderbeek also contextualizes the current tension within the history of the holiday itself. She notes that the season has always featured unsettling tropes, such as the threat of being taken to Spain or receiving salt, suggesting that parents should monitor their own child’s specific reactions rather than labeling the program inherently damaging.
For Sofie Vissers, editor-in-chief of M/F Parents, the dramatic plotlines offer a unique “learning opportunity.” She argues that shielding children from all stress is less effective than using the show as a framework for emotional development.
Vissers reports that her own children, aged 5 and 6, processed the show’s plot developments by inventing their own reassuring explanations. She views this creative problem-solving as a positive exercise in emotional management, proving that the broadcast can help parents and children work through complex feelings together.
The Sinterklaas News continues its daily broadcasts at 18:00 on NPO Zapp. Meanwhile, the national arrival of Sinterklaas is slated for Saturday, November 14, in the municipality of Grave, Land van Cuijk.
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