What you need for a Sinterklaas concert

A Sinterklaas concert needs more than instruments and sheet music. You will also need seating, serving supplies, stage equipment and a reliable way to keep cables and power connections safe. This shopping list helps you check the practical details before the concert day, especially the items that are easy to order too late. Match quantities to your audience, musicians, guest artists and volunteers, then complete the final check at least one week before the event.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Chairsqty 140
Foldable tablesqty 12
High tablesqty 4
Changing room chairsqty 12
Coat racksqty 3
Clothes hangersqty 150
Waste binsqty 8

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 120
Glassesqty 160
Wine glassesqty 80
Platesqty 140
Dessert platesqty 140
Knivesqty 140
Forksqty 140
Teaspoonsqty 120
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8

Equipment

Stage sectionsqty 12
Microphonesqty 4
Microphone standsqty 4
Speakersqty 2
Mixing console
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 8
Music standsqty 24
Conductor's lectern
Musician chairsqty 24
Cable matsqty 8
Cable tiesqty 40
Spare batteriesqty 20

Lighting

LED stage lightsqty 4
String lightsqty 6
Atmosphere lightsqty 8

Decorations

Sinterklaas flagsqty 6
Sinterklaas helper postersqty 8
Red-and-white buntingqty 12
Golden starsqty 20
Artificial snow blanketsqty 4
Artificial Christmas tree
Christmas baublesqty 30
Shoe giftsqty 100

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 8
Coolersqty 4
Ice cube traysqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 4
Bread knivesqty 3
Kitchen knivesqty 3
Measuring cupsqty 3
Serving spoonsqty 8
traysqty 8
Food warmersqty 4
Tableclothsqty 14
Serving traysqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 6 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 12 liters
- Whipping cream - 8 spray cans
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 2 kilos
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 10 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Orange juice - 8 packs
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Bitterballen - 300 pieces
- Vegetarian bitterballen - 100 pieces
- Mini cheese soufflés - 100 pieces
- Mini Spring Rolls - 100 pieces
- Puff pastry snacks - 100 pieces
- Cheese cubes - 3 kilo
- Young matured cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 4 kilos
- Mandarins - 4 kilo
- Cucumbers - 3 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Carrots - 2 kilos
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Snacks - 6 bags
- Pepernoten - 8 kilo
- Spiced cookie bits - 6 kilo
- Chocolate gingerbread cookies - 3 kilos
- Spiced biscuits - 5 packs
- Filled speculaas - 4 pieces
- Marzipan - 2 kilos
- Chocolate letters - 100 pieces
- Small gift bags - 100 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- White bread - 6 loaves
- Currant buns - 60 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 2 kilos
- Cream cheese - 1 kilo
- Mild cheese slices - 2 kilos
- Ham - 1,5 kilo
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Jam - 4 jars
- Chocolate sprinkles - 3 packs
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Satay sauce - 2 jars
- Salt - 1 tin
- Black pepper - 1 canister
- Paprika powder - 1 can
- Cinnamon - 1 canister
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Sunflower oil - 2 bottles
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Napkins - 600 pieces
- Paper cups - 300 pieces
- Paper plates - 250 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 300 pieces
- Coffee filters - 2 packs
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 pack
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 20 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 36 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
Drink dispensersqty 4
Thermos cupsqty 20
Coffee creamer pitcherqty 6
Sugar bowlsqty 6
Bottle openersqty 4
Ice packsqty 20
Serving jugsqty 8
Cookie tinsqty 8
Bread basketsqty 8
Name cards for dietary requirementsqty 20

Cleaning

Floor squeegeesqty 2
Broom setsqty 3
Mopsqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 3

Tips

Count chairs separately for the audience, musicians, changing room and volunteers. Reserve the musician chairs and conductor’s lectern before arranging the hall layout, because stage space is often tighter than expected.
Prepare one complete place setting per expected catering guest, plus about 10% extra plates, cups, glasses, forks, knives and teaspoons. Extra serving platters and serving tongs are easy to overlook when catering arrives.
Test microphones, speakers, the mixing console and music stands during the technical setup, not on concert morning. Keep spare batteries, extension cords, power strips, cable ties and cable mats together in one clearly marked box.
Provide at least one coat rack section and one hanger per guest who is expected to remove a coat, with extra capacity for Sinterklaas, the Pieten and performers. This prevents coats from ending up on changing room chairs or instrument cases.
Make the final shopping check after dietary requirements and registrations close. Use the confirmed number of guests for catering, then add a small buffer rather than buying only for the first estimate.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and cups do I need for a Sinterklaas concert?: Plan one plate and one cup per catering guest, then add about 10% spare stock. If guests may return for coffee or drinks, allow at least 1.5 cups per person and keep extra teaspoons available.
How early should I buy supplies for a Sinterklaas concert?: Order rental furniture, stage sections, microphones and speakers at least 3 to 4 weeks before the concert. Buy disposable or non-perishable supplies 7 to 10 days beforehand, after registrations and dietary requirements are confirmed.
How many spare batteries should I bring?: Bring at least two spare sets for every battery-powered microphone or accessory, plus one additional mixed set for last-minute replacements. Check all batteries during the technical test 1 to 2 days before the concert.
What cable and power supplies are needed for the concert?: Prepare extension cords and power strips for every separate technical position, with at least one spare of each type. Use cable mats wherever guests or performers cross cables, and keep cable ties ready during stage setup.

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