You’re asking about how often children should put out their shoe for Sinterklaas in Dutch tradition, in a way that balances surprise with well- being. Direct answer

• Many sources and parenting guidelines suggest keeping schoen zetten to about 1 to 2 times per week during the Sinterklaas period (from the intocht up to Pakjesavond). This helps preserve the magic and reduces over-anticipation or clutter, while still maintaining festive engagement. If your family prefers a lighter rhythm, one or two set moments per week (e.g., weekend plus a midweek day) is also common.

Context and practical tips

• Establish clear times: pick consistent days for shoe filling (such as Wednesdays and Saturdays) so children know what to expect and there’s less daily anticipation.

• Keep expectations modest: small items or sweets are typical; the point is the excitement of finding something in the shoe, not quantity.

• Tailor to your child: if a child is easily overstimulated or has trouble sleeping during the season, it can be kinder to limit to 1 weekly visit or even a single fixed moment per week.

• Communicate with your family: align on how many gifts per season and how often the shoe will be filled to avoid disappointment or a sense of rushing the celebration.

Notes on variations

• Some families do not adhere to a strict schedule and instead allow shoe filling only on special days (e.g., around the intocht or Pakjesavond), while others keep it more frequent. The key is to balance anticipation with the child’s sleep and mood.

If you’d like, I can tailor a simple, printable shoe-zet/afspraak kalender for your family with two regular days and one optional extra day, plus suggested small gifts to fit a modest budget.