The reactions in Volendam about the definitive deletion of Zwarte Piet during the Sinterklaas entry into the village are not tender. Many Volendam residents find it incomprehensible and deeply sad. Johan Bond, chairman of one of the two Sinterklaas committees, informs NH Nieuws that he has been threatened in recent weeks by people who are against Zwarte Piet. “That is why the committee has decided to forego Zwarte Piet during the entry.”
Due to multiple threats to the volunteers, Bond and his volunteers do not yet dare to respond on camera, because the message has been released today that they will no longer have Zwarte Piets at the entry.
Angry reactions are raining on Facebook about the decision of the two Sinterklaas committees. From ‘couples of cowards’ to ‘violence and intimidation are rewarded.’ Reporter Suzette Nesselaar took to the streets in Volendam to gauge opinions.
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Division in Volendam about canceling Zwarte Piet – NH Nieuws
Next week Bond will talk to the Sinterklaas committee with the municipality and mayor Lieke Sievers, to see how the organization should now ‘continue’, after the reactions to the change.
But there will be no changes to the event, Bond said. “We are going for a children’s party, period. We have made a different choice and that is that we are going for soot wipes, no discussion. We choose a solution for the children so that those small children all have a nice entry, without riots.”
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