Those who pay close attention in Westzaan have already seen it. Sinterklaas sleeps in ‘t Reghthuys together with his new chief Piet. The new help from Saint Nicholas has soot for the first time and is a woman. Three weeks ago, demonstrations were still being held against the racist caricature of the Pieten in Westzaan, but according to Sint, that has nothing to do with the change. “He was tired and retired with help,” says Sinterklaas.
The new head Piet also says that the demonstration has nothing to do with her new appearance. “We had been working on it for years and now it was time for me to stand next to Saint Nicholas,” she says. The children in the street all seem to like it and call out to the piet for candy. From today they can meet Sint and the Pieten in ‘t Reghthuys.
Many Zwarte Pieten can still be seen in the Sinterklaas museum in the village. “You can’t erase history,” says the founder of the museum, Markjan Fraij. For years he was the right hand of Saint Nicholas in Westzaan, but he thinks it’s good that a change has now been chosen. “I am in favor of Zwarte Piet, but we must continue to adapt, I think that is good.” Fraij suspects that in 10 years there will be no Zwarte Piet anywhere.
The children in Westzaan will probably not notice the changes so quickly, they can give Sinterklaas a hand in ‘t Reghthuys this weekend.
