Towards a respectful Sinterklaas celebration in Wageningen

We

Residents and neighbours of Wageningen,

establish that:

• that the Sinterklaas (Saint Nicolas) celebration is an enjoyable event for the entire community of Wageningen. Most people have beautiful childhood memories of the Sinterklaas celebration.
• But there are also many people who have painful memories, because they have experienced discrimination. In recent years, residents of Wageningen have initiated a calm and dignified dialogue about the figure of ‘Zwarte Piet’ ('Black Pete').
• This petition aims to make visible that many people in Wageningen support a change in Piet's appearance, because the body that is responsible for the official entry of Sinterklaas into Wageningen is under the impression that this support does not exist.
• Many schools in Wageningen already opt for a valuable, respectful and creative Sinterklaas celebration. Since a few years, they have been using a 'new Piet', without the stereotype features of the black painted skin, the red lips, the black curly hair and the golden earrings.
• Similarly, at the official arrival of Sinterklaas into Wageningen in 2017, most children participated looking as a ‘new Piet’. The signatories of this petition would also like to see this change reflected at the official 2018 arrival of Sinterklaas in Wageningen. In this way we can move together towards a Piet that everyone enjoys, at a Sinterklaas celebration for all children, with respect for the diversity in our society.

and request

the city council and the Wageningen Business Association to collaborate in changing the appearance of the Petes at the 2018 arrival of Sinterklaas.