Zwarte Piet disappears from the streets throughout Zaanstad and with it the demonstrations of the action groups. These are the agreements that must ensure a safe Sinterklaas celebration. The signatories of the agreement speak of a historic moment. The Sinterklaas committee in Westzaan cannot yet sign the document, because it cannot guarantee that there will soon be no more Black Petes.
In Zaandam, the covenant “A safe Sinterklaas celebration for all Sinterklaas celebrations and everyone involved” was signed last night by seven of the eight Sinterklaas committees in the municipality.
Jerry Afriyie of Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) calls it a historic moment. “This document is not only for the Zaan region, but also as inspiration for the whole of the Netherlands,” said Afriyie. Both KOZP and Zaankanters against racism (ZaTeRa) signed the document.
Empty place
The place where the Sinterklaas Committee Westzaan could have signed remains empty. According to Joke Smit, secretary of the Sinterklaas Committee Westzaan, there are still volunteers in the village who want to preserve the traditional Zwarte Piet. The committee is in discussions with the members, but it is still ‘too early’ for Westzaan, according to Smit.
That does not mean that ZaTeRa and KOZP will immediately demonstrate there. However, the action groups are in discussions with the Westzaans committee. “The intention was never to take away the fun, but to ensure that it becomes a tradition for all children and not just white families,” Afriyie explains in a speech.
The Zaanstad Sinterklaas Committee organizes the arrival for Zaandam-Zuid every year. They switched to soot sweeper Pieten last year. Organizer René de Reus indicates that the traditional Zwarte Piet is no longer sustainable today, also because it scares away sponsors. “We started sweeping soot last year,” he says. “And as it turned out, I wasn’t even recognized afterwards.”