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[1] Zwarte Piet (‘Black Pete’)

The Dutch tradition called Sinterklaas is generally depicted as an innocent celebration. However, there is also criticism regarding the appearance of Zwarte Piet (‘Black Pete’), the servant of Sinterklaas. There has been criticism for decades, but it has intensified in the past 10 years. Dutch celebraties & activists who spoke out against Zwarte Piet received (death) threats, while proponents claimed it is all about an innocent character. In terms of criminal law, especially in relation to article 137, it is difficult to ban Zwarte Piet. At the same time, a liberal government ought to be neutral. Public authorities should support a neutral Piet, without negative stereotypes. The Amsterdam court also ruled in 2014 that the character of Zwarte Piet is discriminatory. This is not per se outweighed by freedom of expression by proponents.

[2] The history of Zwarte Piet

At first, Sinterklaas – based on St. Nicolas of Myra – didn’t have servants with an African appearance. The black servant ‘Zwarte Piet’ was only created around 1850. Although the colour black refers to chimney soot, there is no explanation for the African appearance. Several origin theories don’t provide an exclusive explanation – chimney sweeper, Moors, a black devil. According to Eugenie Boer, Zwarte Piet is inspired by paintings with little, black servants from rich households. According to John Helsloot, Zwarte Piet has a plural character, including an innocent childhood friend. However, it is undeniable that Zwarte Piet matches racist stereotypes of Black people, especially in relation to colonial slavery. The character Zwarte Piet corresponds to the inferior appearance and behavioral traits that racist Europeans attributed to enslaved Black African people.

[3] Changing Zwarte Piet

“Zwarte Piet, affected by the history of slavery, stands in the way towards the equal participation of descendents of the enslaved who now live in The Netherlands. In a liberal state that is based on free and equal citizenship, the opposite of slavery, the government should encourage that Zwarte Piet moves away from his racist characteristics.”

“In the fight against discrimination, the government itself should set an example, in the expectation that this contributes to a growing understanding among the public. Sometimes it is not just about interpreting the world, you also have to change her a bit.”

It should not cost too much effort to change a tradition in such as way that it remains fun and pleasant, without it harming others – especially marginalized groups.