Thousands of people saw Sinterklaas arrive for the first time tonight with soot wipes in the port of Volendam. In the run-up to that, it was not without a struggle. dIn recent weeks, the entry has been the talk of the town, because Piet’s color was adjusted for the first time this year “to the current standard”, according to the two Sinterklaas committees in Volendam.
Today it was the talk of the town on the dike in Volendam. “What color is Zwarte Piet?” Many parents wondered this. The atmosphere was a bit tense, because chairman Johan Bond of one of the two Sinterklaas committees had previously sent out a cry for help to the residents of the village. Since the decision not to use Zwarte Pieten for the entry, the committee inundated with criticism.
Discussions arose on social media, but criticism was also expressed offline. During the FC Volendam – FC Utrecht game yesterday, some football supporters dressed up yesterday as Zwarte Piet. Also this morning the discussion flared up again because of a banner (see photo below) which was placed at the bottom of the dike. After consultation between the initiators and the Sinterklaas committees, the banners were removed after a short time.
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Around 4 p.m. the dike filled with people. Because the Sinterklaas entry into the fishing village is spectacular. The wait was rewarded with the arrival of parcel boat 12, dozens of Pieten who handed out gingerbread cookies and fireworks.
No demonstrations
There were no demonstrations at the entry, while there were yesterday in Westzaan. There were protesters pelted with eggs. In Volendam none of that: they sang along loudly with the Sinterklaas songs. The boat moored and dozens of soot wipes sprinkled ginger nuts. “Fortunately, they are not blue or yellow, but brown”, a mother sighs with relief.
Parents in particular seemed to have difficulty with the fact that the color of Piet this year is not black, but brown. The children were mainly busy filling their hands with as many gingerbread cookies as possible.