Warme Chocolademelk

If there’s one drink that brings instant gezelligheid to a Dutch winter day, it’s a steaming cup of warme chocolademelk, warm chocolate milk. 

In the Netherlands, chocolate milk is enjoyed year-round, but it has a special sparkle during the colder months. You'll find it in various places: in small booths at the skating rink or when skating on natural ice, at Christmas markets, during family time, at cafés where coffee and tea are served, and during Sinterklaas. Waiting on the quay for his ship to arrive, or on the evening of December 5th, when the presents are handed out, a hot cup of chocolate milk tops off the evening. 

When Did Chocolate Arrive in the Netherlands?

Chocolate reached the Netherlands in the 17th century, during the time of the Dutch Golden Age. Because the Dutch were major players in global trade through the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the West India Company (WIC), they were among the first Europeans to encounter cacao from Central and South America but it was the Spanish Duke of Alva who introduced cocoa to the Netherlands.

1827 Silver Chocolate Pot

By the mid-1600s, drinking chocolate (then called "seculatie", made from ground cacao paste, water, and spices) was a luxury beverage enjoyed by the wealthy. It wasn’t the sweet, creamy treat we know today, but it was fashionable, exotic, and considered somewhat medicinal. Wealthy Dutch households in the 17th and 18th centuries often owned ornate chocolate pots (chocoladekannen) and special tools for frothing drinking chocolate.

At the end of the 17th century, a chocolate industry emerged in the province of Zeeland. Most cocoa was originally transported to Middelburg, while Amsterdam was also a supply port. The latter laid the foundation for the Zaan region's cocoa and chocolate factories like Pette, Boon and De Jong. Trade via Middelburg eventually declined and Amsterdam became the center of cocoa supply. 

Van Houten and Blooker played major roles in turning the Netherlands into a global center of chocolate. In 1828, Van Houten revolutionized chocolate production by inventing the cocoa press and the "Dutching" process, which created smooth, easily dissolved cocoa powder and shaped the flavor of modern chocolate worldwide. Blooker, founded around the same time, helped make cocoa a beloved staple in Dutch homes through high-quality, accessible cocoa powder and iconic branding. Together, their innovations and widespread distribution made drinking chocolate and cocoa-based baking common in everyday Dutch life and established the Netherlands as the world’s leading cocoa-processing nation.

Hot Chocolate Today

Nowadays, when it comes to chocolate milk, you have two options: either you buy it ready made, or you make it yourself. If you grew up in the Netherlands, you know that Chocomel isn’t just any chocolate milk: it’s the chocolate milk. Created in the 1930s, it quickly became a household favorite thanks to its rich, smooth flavor and signature yellow packaging. So beloved is it that many Dutch cafés serve it right on the menu, by name, either warm with a generous swirl of whipped cream (slagroom) or ice cold - both versions equally delicious.

Warme Chocolademelk

For making hot chocolate at home, cocoa powder is a key ingredient, and Dutch companies like Van Houten and Droste have been providing high-quality cocoa for centuries. Our recipe today uses both chocolate and cocoa powder to make a rich, creamy treat. It makes 2 cups, but it can easily be doubled or tripled for sharing.

For the milk

2 cups (500 ml) whole milk

1 Tablespoon quality cocoa powder

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon corn starch

2 oz dark chocolate* 

For the topping

1 cup (250 ml) whipping cream

1 Tablespoon powdered sugar

Chocolate sprinkles (optional)

In a separate bowl, mix four tablespoons of milk with the cocoa powder, sugar and corn starch and mix until all lumps are gone. Heat the rest of the milk on the stove, add the dark chocolate, and stir until the chocolate has dissolved. Pour half of the warm milk in the bowl, stir until well mixed, and then pour everything back into the pot. Keep stirring while you bring the chocolate milk up to a simmer, and boil for a good minute. 

Whip the cream and the powdered sugar into stiff peaks. Pour the hot chocolate into mugs (leave enough space for the whipped cream!) and top with a big dollop of whipped cream. Sprinkle chocolate shavings or sprinkles over the top. 

* Choose a dark chocolate, either chips or a bar, that has over 70% cocoa. If you don't care for dark chocolate, you can also make this with white chocolate (skip the cocoa powder) or milk chocolate (skip the sugar and adjust afterwards). You could also add a splash of vanilla, rum, flavored coffee syrup, or  hazelnut or coffee liqueur to make it extra special!

Setting Your Shoe: A Tasty Sinterklaas Tradition

In the Netherlands, the magic of Sinterklaas begins long before the big night of December 5th. For many families, the excitement truly kicks off in mid-November, right after Sinterklaas arrives by steamboat from Spain. From that moment on, children may set out their shoe (“schoen zetten”) once or twice a week, usually on Saturday evenings or whenever the family decides it’s time for a little extra sparkle in the darkening days of fall.

Traditionally, the shoe is placed near the fireplace, the symbolic entry point for Sinterklaas’s helpers, the Pieten. These days, with most homes relying on central heating, the hearth may simply be a radiator, a hallway corner, or even the foot of the stairs. Children don’t mind, magic works anywhere! 

Shoe setting is far from a new tradition. Historical documents have shown that, starting in 1427, shoes were placed in the Nicolai Church in Utrecht on December 5th, the evening of St. Nicholas' Day. Wealthy Utrecht residents put money in the shoes, and the proceeds were distributed among the poor on December 6th, the official day of the death of Saint Nicholas. From the 16th century, we see descriptions of children placing shoes in the living room...and the tradition continues to this day. In the Netherlands we still place shoes. In the United States and Canada, the shoe has made place for a stocking. 

What Goes Into the Shoe

Before bedtime, children carefully select a shoe and fill it with small offerings for Sinterklaas’s horse, Ozosnel (or Amerigo, depending on the tradition). A carrot, apple, or even a handful of hay is tucked inside, often accompanied by a drawing or a hopeful note. Some kids add a bit of water in a cup "just in case the horse gets thirsty,” showing the earnest logic (though never questioning how Piet will make it through the central heating!) that makes this tradition so endearing.

Once the shoe is set, the children gather around to sing Sinterklaas songs, their voices rising with pure excitement. Whether it’s in front of an actual fireplace or a perfectly ordinary radiator, the ritual is the same: singing, hoping, and imagining.

The Morning Magic (and Parental Panic)

By the next morning, the offering has mysteriously disappeared, replaced by a small treat. Sometimes it's a mandarin orange, a tiny toy, a handful of kruidnoten, strooigoed, or the much-desired chocolate letter. But every Dutch household knows the other side of the story too: the parents’ occasional jolt of panic upon waking: The shoe! We forgot the shoe! that leads to whispered scrambling in the early hours, hoping the children haven't woken up yet, and a stealthy dash to fill the shoes to prevent disappointment. 

If the children discovered that Piet did not stop by the house that night before you were up, often a handwritten apology letter from Piet or Sint (it's good practice to keep one handy for those unfortunate moments!) or faking a text message saying that the weather kept Sint from coming over last night will help. 

Shoe-Setting Beyond the Home

The tradition doesn’t stop at the front door. Throughout the Netherlands, shops, supermarkets, garden centers, and even banks join in the fun. Merchants set out rows of paper shoes, ready for young visitors to decorate and leave behind for Sinterklaas. A week later, children return to find their paper shoes filled with tiny surprises.

A Tradition That Never Fades

Whether you're setting a shoe by the fire, the heater, or a cardboard display of a chimney at the local store, the ritual of schoen zetten captures everything people love about Sinterklaas: anticipation, generosity, laughter, a bit of mystery, and a whole lot of warmth.

It’s one of those Dutch traditions that lingers in memory long after childhood, because in those small moments of belief and excitement, the month of December becomes truly magical. We would love to encourage you to bring that magic into your own home, whether with your children, grandchildren, or any little ones in your life. Traditions connect us. They anchor our kids in where we come from, and they create warm memories that last forever. 

What You Can Do

Let’s revive the joy of setting a shoe! Not just for gifts for our (grand)children, but as a way to teach them that generosity is the real magic of Sinterklaas. Imagine a home, a school, or a store filled with little shoes meant not for the taker, but for the giver. Here are some ideas:

Shoes for Sharing: Children set their shoes with coins, small toys, or non-perishable items inside, not for themselves, but to be collected and donated to a local food pantry, shelter, or charity.

Paper Shoe Campaigns: Stores or malls can give children a blank paper shoe to decorate. Inside, children can “fill” it with messages, coins, or small gifts. The store collects these and donates the proceeds or items to a local charity.

Local Charity Tie-In: Partner with senior centers or hospitals: children decorate paper shoes with drawings or notes, which are then delivered to residents, brightening their day. 

Let us know in the comments if and how you shared this tradition! 

Mandarijnentoetje

For as far back as I can remember, oma had a package of maïzena, cornstarch, on her kitchen shelves. It was a bright yellow cardboard box, with one or two red spoons across the front, hiding out towards the back of the cupboard. I am pretty sure that box was the one and only one she ever bought, and it just resided in the cupboard for "just in case", as I don't ever remember her doing anything with it: she used to thicken her sauces and soups with flour, the traditional way. 

Nevertheless, cornstarch has a long history in the Dutch kitchen. Its arrival in the Netherlands dates back to the 19th century, around the same time that cornstarch became popular in other parts of Europe. The brand name Maizena was introduced in the United States in 1862 by the Duryea brothers, and less than a year later the product was already available on the Dutch market, and winning medals at the London and Hamburg expositions. What I found curious is that cornstarch was not only recommended as the "non plus ultra of all fine dishes" as the advertisement below indicates, but that cornstarch was also an "unsurpassable food for the weak and those with stomach ailments". How it was used for this category of sufferers I was not able to determine from my readings, but my guess is that it would make porridges that were easy on the stomach, and would potentially reduce any effects of gluten intolerance? If you know, let me know!

Nowadays in Dutch cuisine, maïzena is primarily used to thicken sauces, soups, and gravies, as not many have the knowledge (and the patience) to use flour instead. It can also be used in baking, often as a part of the mixture for cakes or pastries, contributing to a tender crumb, like in slagroomtaart, our typical birthday cake, and is essential in making several traditional desserts, such as vla (a creamy Dutch custard) or today's dessert, mandarijnenpudding.

Advertisement from Opregte Haarlemsche Courant

2 January1864

A big reason for its popularity is because of how quickly something comes together, like today's mandarijnenpudding. This is a safeguard against unexpected and last-minute guests, and you probably have all the necessary ingredients at hand. If you don't like mandarin oranges, you can use canned peaches or pears instead, or fresh raspberries or strawberries. If you prefer Nilla cookies over ladyfingers, use those - these desserts are easy to make your own and create new family favorites! Makes six medium, or four large servings.

Mandarijnenpudding

1 11 oz (315 grams) mandarin oranges, in light syrup
2 cups (475 ml) milk
1/2 cup (60 grams) cornstarch
3/4 cup (120 grams) sugar
Zest from 1 fresh mandarin orange, divided
12 ladyfingers

1 cup whipping cream

1 heaping Tablespoon powdered sugar

Drain the can of mandarin oranges, but keep the juice. Keep 6 pretty mandarin slices aside, and coarsely chop the rest. Add enough milk to the juice to make it to 3 cups (750 ml), then use a few tablespoons of the mixture to make a paste out of the cornstarch. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in the rest of the milk, juice and the sugar. Bring the milk up to a low simmer, and stir the cornstarch paste into the pan. Keep stirring until the paste dissolves and the liquid thickens, about five minutes. Take off the stove, and fold the chopped mandarin slices in. Put it back on the stove, and stir until it's incorporated, then remove off the heat. Stir in half of the mandarin zest, then set the pan aside to cool. 

In the meantime, break up 6 of the ladyfingers into small, bitesize pieces and divide them over 6 glasses. When the pudding is cooled down enough (about 20 minutes) divide over six glasses or cups. Cover with plastic film to avoid skin forming, and put the glasses in the fridge until you are ready to use. 

Right before serving, whip the cream with the powdered sugar. Pipe the whipping cream, or use a spoon to make a big dollop on top, and decorate with a slice of mandarin orange, a ladyfinger, and the remaining zest. Serve cold.