Bjorn Wilbers is Santa Claus in December. And not just any Santa Claus, the Tilburger is a professional Santa Claus and that’s what he looks like. He is one of the four Coca Cola Santa Clauses in the Netherlands and also appears as Santa at many company parties and marketing events. “I enjoy being Santa Claus much more than Sinterklaas. Santa is neat and you still have to stick to the story, with Santa Claus I can be sharper and say a lot more.”
Bjorn, you wouldn’t say it, but is only 26 years old, has attended drama school and therefore loves to put himself in someone else’s shoes. He likes the role and is very busy: he is Santa Claus from December 6 to December 23. “This is actually my first day off,” he said on Sunday. “I was actually supposed to have three days off, but I worked every day. Then you are talking about two or three jobs a day.”
“You won’t find me in a shopping center.”
In addition to his ‘daily’ work as a Coca Cola Santa Claus, he presents a program on the radio at Omroep Brabant and he also has his own mobile Christmas project. “Then there is a stage and we hand out Christmas packages for a company, for example. I often also have something in which my theater background plays a role, so you won’t encounter me in a shopping center.”
“I can buy a new car with the proceeds.”
He also played Sinterklaas sometimes, but saw more possibilities as Santa Claus. “In every village you have at least two Sinterklaas, but the Santa Claus market is less saturated. There are at most ten professional Santa Clauses in the Netherlands.”
He had a custom-made Santa suit made, and a year later serious hairpieces made of real hair were added. Being Santa Claus turned out to be a gap in the market. Bjorn is very busy and in the meantime also earns a nice sum from it. “Yes, that is going in the right direction. I can only buy a new car with Santa’s proceeds.”
