After years of controversy, the mayor of Amsterdam has plans to change the classic Dutch Christmas character of “Black Pete” into a less offensive interpretation.
The character of “Black Pete” is traditionally the sidekick of the Dutch Santa Claus “Sinterklaas.” Seen at numerous national Christmas festivals, “Black Pete” is portrayed by a white man wearing blackface and as a sort of servant for Sinterklaas, a portrayal many people have a problem with due to its slave connotations. However, for many Dutch people “Black Pete” is not meant to be offensive and is an important part of Dutch culture.
In July 2014, TheCelebrityCafe.com reported that an Amsterdam court declared that “Black Pete” is a negative stereotype. Now Amsterdam Mayor Eber van der Laan has stated that over the next four years the traditional character will go through drastic changes.
Over the next four years, “Black Pete” will not only change his outward appearance but the character will be portrayed on more equal footing with “Sinterklaas” in behavior, no longer acting in the tradition subservient manner as reported by the NL Times.
Speaking of the changes that will take place, Mayor van der Laan stated, ““My hope is that people will now accept that with these changes Sinterklaas can become a celebration for everybody. Then the Sint will become what he always was: a sweet and beloved tradition that makes everybody happy.”