2,000 "rennende kerstmannen" (running Santas) in Rotterdam

So many Santas... 2,000 Father Christmases head out for a run in Rotterdam

Last updated at 21:47pm on 22nd December 2007

He should be getting his rest in time for a busy Christmas Eve delivering presents around the world. But instead of putting his feet up in front of the fire, Santa hit the streets for a run.

Cloned by 2,000 other Father Christmases, the Dutch bunch ran around the streets of Rotterdam for the annual run.

The Santas beat the streets on December 21 in The Netherlands. The Santa Run is a tradition in other big cities worldwide already including Sydney, Milan, London and Las Vegas.

But the Rotterdam run, organised by a local radio station, is taking place for the first time. All the Santas, women and men alike, don their red and white suits, hats and beards, and jog for 5 kilometres on the flat Dutch streets.