Children in Westzaan are jumping along the road. All ages sing at the top of their lungs and everyone is rewarded in the end. Black and Sooty Piets brave the bad weather and generously hand out gingerbread nuts. Last year there was a demonstration here against the Zwarte Pieten, but that did not happen today.
Santa Claus drives through the ribbon village in a procession of illuminated tractors and floats. The children receive a helping hand from the Good Saint, who addresses almost all of them by their first name. The Pieten also give the children personal attention and take pictures with them while smiling.
In Westzaan Pieten are also black
The youngest children on the side of the road may not know it, but Westzaan is the last place in Zaanstad that still has Black Petes in the parade. Last year, Kick Out demonstrated Zwarte Piet and Zaankanters against racism against the Zwarte Piet in the village.
In addition, Eggs thrown at the demonstrators by visitors of the parade. In October, all Sinterklaas committees in Zaanstad signed a covenant for a safer celebration. With this, Zwarte Piet disappeared from Zaanstad.
Westzaan did not sign. “We could not promise that honor would not be Black Petes and then you should not be lame and pretend,” says Joke Smit of the Sinterklaas Committee in Westzaan.
Good conversations
Zaankanters against Racism has nevertheless decided not to demonstrate this year. According to Joke, this is because there are good conversations between Westzaan and the activists. “We have indicated that we need more time for the change,” says Smit.
On a incident with an unwell volunteer Afterwards the saintly man’s entry into Westzaan was peaceful.
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