author
J. (Jan) Schenkman
1806–1863
A 19th-century Dutch teacher, poet, and children's writer, he is best remembered for shaping popular Sinterklaas traditions in print. His most famous book, Saint Nicholas and his Servant from 1850, helped leave a lasting mark on holiday culture in the Netherlands.
0 Audiobooks
About the author
Born in Amsterdam on October 1, 1806, Jan Schenkman was a Dutch teacher, poet, and writer of children's books. He worked in education for many years and wrote in a lively, accessible style that made his work popular with young readers.
He is especially remembered for his connection to the Sinterklaas tradition. His 1850 book Sint Nikolaas en zijn knecht (Saint Nicholas and his Servant) became widely known for helping define familiar elements of the holiday as it was imagined in the 19th century.
Schenkman died in Amsterdam on May 4, 1863. Though he wrote more broadly as a poet and humorist, his name is still most closely linked to the songs, stories, and festive imagery that kept his work alive long after his lifetime.