Netherlands expects its own Black Friday

The Netherlands has its on version of the American phenomenon Black Friday. But on the Monday just before Sinterklaas, instead of on the Friday after Thanksgiving as the Americans do it. This is according to research done by Piet Hein Kerkhof of Criteo Benelux, BNR reports. In the United States Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, which is always on the last Thursday in November. It is a day of mega sales and massive discounts, which usually includes large crowds, screaming customers and occasionally someone being trampled. According to Kerkhof, retailers fuel Black Friday with the idea of getting a head start on Christmas shopping. Kerkhof found a similar trend in the Netherlands, though nothing close to the proportions of Black Friday in the United States. According to him, there is a peak in the Netherlands on the Monday following Black Friday, in the run up to Sinterklaas. "This is less driven by retailers, but a trend in the behavior of the consumer", he said to the broadcaster. Dutch consumers like discounts on the Monday before Sinterklaas is set to deliver his gifts.