Nat'l Zwarte Piet talks coming: Social Affairs minister

Following the example of Amsterdam, Minister Lodewijk Assher of Social Affairs wants to engage in a national discussion about the future of Sinterklaas caricature Zwarte Piet, Trouw reports.  In Amsterdam, representatives of the foundation Netherlands Is Improving, which sees Zwarte Piet as a racist stereotype, had discussions with other interest parties such as the Amsterdam Sinterklaas Committee. At the final meeting, last week, Minister Asscher was also present. Out of the efforts in Amsterdam, the decision has come that the entrance tour of Sinterklaas has to be removed of the "negroid stereotype" found in the image of Zwarte Piet. This has to be finalized in four years' time. According to Minister Asscher's spokesperson, he was present at the meetings in Amsterdam to find inspiration for "similar discussions on a national level."