Men pelt demonstrators with eggs during Sinterklaas arrival Zaandam

Yesterday it was already known that the municipality of Zaanstad forbade the anti-Zwarte Piet demonstrators to use megaphones during the Sinterklaas party at the Burcht in Zaandam. It could possibly lead to a ‘whimsical atmosphere’.

A spokesperson for the action group ‘Zaankanters against Racism’ says that two unknown men threw eggs at them. According to the action group, the police acted quickly and had the situation under control.

Last week it was already hit. Then the action group in Westzaan was pelted with dozens of eggs during the Sinterklaas arrival. The demonstration area was also smeared with manure beforehand.

About 70 demonstrators protested this afternoon in the designated demonstration area. They did not agree with the appearance of the Petes. “We saw afro wigs and red lips; clearly a racist caricature,” says the spokesman for the action group. Nevertheless, no (major) follow-up demonstrations are planned. But, she continues, ‘we don’t rule them out either’.

The chairman of the Sinterklaas committee Zaandam said that he had had a fantastic day. “Despite the cold weather, we had an unforgettable parade.” Sinterklaas and the Pieten were waved to by many children and their parents from the quay. “We are facing the upcoming Sinterklaas period with a very good feeling.”