Last Kick Out Zwarte Piet protests planned in Yerseke and Texel on November 15
Activist group Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) announced plans for what it calls its final protests against fully black-painted Zwarte Piet characters during the Sinterklaas parades in Yerseke, Zeeland, and on Texel on November 15, AD reported.
KOZP has previously consulted with ten municipalities and parade committees on the appearance of Pieten. The group said changes were minimal in some communities, either in the caricature itself or in the amount of black face paint used. KOZP said it reached agreements with other municipalities to create more inclusive Sinterklaas celebrations.
The national Sinterklaas parade, broadcast by NTR, will take place this year on Texel. KOZP leader Jerry Afriyie stated in late August that the fight against Zwarte Piet is “finished” and expressed eagerness to end the activism. However, the group said it was alerted that fully black Pieten are still appearing in Yerseke and Texel, prompting the last demonstrations.
Past protests have sometimes been tense. In Yerseke last year, four people were arrested for disturbing public order during a KOZP demonstration against fully black-painted Pieten. Police detained three men and a 14-year-old boy for throwing food, stones, and fireworks at demonstrators. In 2022, a KOZP protest in Staphorst escalated when activists were blocked and pelted with eggs.
The protests coincide with the final month of Stichting Nederland Wordt Beter, the parent organization of KOZP. After 15 years, the foundation said it has achieved its three goals of raising awareness of racism in the Netherlands and plans to dissolve after December 5, 2025.
