What you need for a Sinterklaas celebration

Use this shopping list to prepare a Sinterklaas celebration without discovering gaps on the day itself. It covers the items guests use at the table, equipment for coffee and drinks, serving supplies, gift-table essentials and kitchen basics. Buy shelf-stable products first, then pick up fresh groceries shortly before the event. Check dietary requirements before you finalise quantities, especially for snacks, desserts and drinks.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 65
Coat racksqty 3
Buffet tablesqty 3
Gift table
Waste binsqty 5

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 70
Dessert platesqty 70
Coffee cupsqty 70
Drinking glassesqty 80
Wine glassesqty 40
Coffee spoonsqty 70
Forksqty 70
Knivesqty 70
Spoonsqty 70
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 8
Soup ladlesqty 4
Pitchersqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Bread knifeqty 2
Measuring cupsqty 2
Mixing bowlsqty 5
Serving spoonsqty 8
Aluminum foilqty 2
Cling filmqty 2

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Bluetooth speaker
Microphone
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Chargersqty 3

Decorations

Sinterklaas flagsqty 4
Pieten balloonsqty 40
Red-and-white buntingqty 8
Burlap sacksqty 4
Plastic mitersqty 3
Name badgesqty 70
Table runnersqty 8
LED candlesqty 12
Gift tagsqty 70

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 4
Standing lampsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Hot chocolate - 6 liters
- Whipped cream - 6 cans
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Mints - 1 box
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 5 bottles
- Ice tea - 5 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- White wine - 3 bottles
- Beer - 36 bottles
- Sparkling juice - 6 bottles
- Spiced biscuits - 8 bags
- Chocolate spiced cookies - 5 bags
- Filled speculaas - 4 packs
- Spiced biscuits - 5 packs
- Taaitaai - 4 packs
- Spiced biscuits - 4 bags
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Bourbon party nuts - 3 bags
- Pretzels - 3 bags
- Popcorn - 3 bags
- Mandarins - 8 kilograms
- Apples - 5 kilograms
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Bananas - 3 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 5 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Carrots - 3 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 10 pieces
- Mixed salad - 2 kilogram
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Mini buns - 80 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Aged cheese - 2 kilogram
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Ham - 1.5 kilograms
- Chicken breast - 1,5 kilogram
- Smoked chicken - 1 kilogram
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Peanut sauce - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Soup - 8 liters
- Vegetarian quiche - 6 pieces
- Savory puff pastry snacks - 120 pieces
- Mini pizzas - 80 pieces
- Meatballs - 150 pieces
- Vegetarian balls - 60 pieces
- Chicken satay - 100 pieces
- Vegetarian wraps - 40 pieces
- Mini frikandellen - 100 pieces
- French fries sauce - 2 bottles
- Apple pie - 4 pies
- Cream puffs - 80 pieces
- Vanilla ice cream - 4 liters
- Chocolate sauce - 2 bottles
- Powdered sugar - 1 pack
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 10 pieces
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Paper towels - 4 packs
- Aluminium trays - 30 pieces
- Food storage containers - 20 pieces

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Broomsqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Rubber glovesqty 6
Toilet brushesqty 2

Game materials

Music quiz cardsqty 70
Bingo cardsqty 70
Bingo markersqty 70
Diceqty 10
Pieten hatsqty 20
Horseshoesqty 6
Ring tossqty 12
Burlap sacks for the gameqty 4
Wooden blocksqty 30

Office

Pensqty 20
Tapeqty 4
Writing paperqty 100
Scissorsqty 4
Markersqty 2
Clipboardsqty 4
Printer paperqty 100
Program leafletsqty 70

Safety

Cable traysqty 8
Non-slip matsqty 6
Flashlightsqty 3

Tips

Plan tableware for every guest plus 10% extra: for 30 guests, prepare at least 33 plates, forks, knives, spoons and drinking glasses. Add separate dessert plates and coffee cups if both are being served.
Buy non-perishable food and drinks 3–7 days ahead, but leave fresh groceries until 1–2 days before the celebration. Keep a short reserve of common items so one missing ingredient does not affect the programme.
Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per person per hour. Provide pitchers, glasses and a cooler before guests arrive rather than adding them during the welcome.
Set aside one clearly marked gift table and bring gifts to the venue at least 60 minutes before the start. Labels should show the recipient’s name and be attached before the gifts leave home.
Count serving equipment separately from guest tableware: for 30 guests, have at least 3 serving platters and 3 serving spoons, plus ladles if soup is on the menu. Cover prepared food with cling film or aluminium foil until serving.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to buy for a Sinterklaas celebration?: Plan food and drinks, gifts and labels, decorations, tableware, serving dishes and kitchen supplies. For each guest, allow one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one fork, one knife, one spoon and one drinking glass, with 10% extra.
How many drinks do I need for a Sinterklaas party?: For the first hour, calculate two to three drinks per person, followed by about one drink per person per hour. For 20 guests over three hours, that means roughly 80–100 drinks, including non-alcoholic options.
When should I buy food for Sinterklaas?: Buy non-perishable groceries 3–7 days in advance and fresh food 1–2 days before the event. Confirm dietary requirements before shopping so you can buy suitable alternatives rather than improvising on the day.
How early should I bring the presents to the venue?: Bring all gifts at least 60 minutes before guests arrive. This leaves time to check labels, arrange the gift table and keep the presents out of the way while tables and chairs are set up.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.