Sinterklaas will go without his blacked-up helpers this year
From now on there will be no more ‘Zwarte Piets’ during the entry of Sinterklaas through the city center of Groningen; Sinterklaas will now accompanied by a combination of rainbow-hued and natural-faced Piets instead.
The municipality of Groningen has made the decision in consultation with the Royal Association for Popular Entertainment (KVvV), the organizer of the Sinterklaas-fesivities, reports the GIC.
Last year during the entry, rainbow, blacked-up and sooty sweepers were present. Alderman Glimina Chakor (GroenLinks) believes that the entry should be a party for everyone and that the figure of Zwarte Piet is not conducive to a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere at the event.
In addition to the city of Groningen, entry parades are to be organised in Haren, Ten Boer, Ten Post and Garmerwolde & Thesinge, among others.
Chakor said: “The aim is that the black-painted Piet will also disappear from there in the long term. The municipality will discuss this with the organisations in these villages.”
Image: a ‘Kick out Zwarte Piet’ protest in The Hague in 2019. By Wikimedia user 1Veertje. License here.
