COLUMN
For Greg’s final column in Hello Zuidas, he wrote an entire new book. The following is an excerpt from Shapiro’s third book THE AMERICAN NETHERLANDER: 25 Years of Expat Tales, available from 11 November.
Have a happy SINTERKLAAS SEASON… ‘Don’t tell me what to do!’ Dutch culture is famous for its pragmatic solutions to thorny social
I realize there are still Dutch people who find this topic to be
problems. …And then there’s Zwarte Piet. The Black Pete debate
upsetting. As Zwarte Piet fans continue to point out, the original
has created something like a ‘Dutch culture war.’ As for me, I must
Sinterklaas was not even Dutch. Saint Nicholas came from Myra in
say I respect the historical significance of Zwarte Piet. It’s part of
Turkey. And if Sinterklaas’ boat is supposed to come from Spain,
a historical through-line known as ‘Don’t tell me what to do!’ The
then the dark-skinned Spaniards aboard are Moors, as in ‘from
‘Don’t tell me what to do’ mentality goes all the way back to the
Morocco.’ So – however you feel about Zwarte Piet – don’t forget
Spanish Revolution. (And it’s still on display by wait staff in many
that the biggest holiday of the Dutch calendar is actually being run
Dutch restaurants.)
by a Turkish guy and a bunch of Moroccans.
In 2013, the UN’s Verene Shepherd referred to the tradition of Zwarte Piet as ‘colonial.’ She demanded that the Netherlands drop the entire Sinterklaas tradition in favor of Christmas – a demand which is by definition ‘colonial.’ The Dutch backlash to Shepherd’s statement was intense! It was a perfect example of Dutch ‘Don’t tell me what to do!’ She may as well have said, “From now on, you all have to be Catholic.” But then in 2020, Prime Minister Rutte told parliament: “I have met many people with dark skin, who said they feel discriminated against because Zwarte Piet is Black. And that is the last thing that we want during the Sinterklaas celebrations.” Apparently, #BlackLivesMatter protests really do work. Before 2020, Mark Rutte’s attitude was: “I thought we exported all our racism to America when we sold them the slaves.”
Gregory Shapiro (b.1968) is the author of How to be Dutch: The Quiz and the voice of Trump on ‘Zondag Met Lubach.’ In 2020 he celebrates 25 years as corporate speaker and host. And his mini-show ‘How NOT to Zoom’ is now available for a 5-minute guest appearance in your next videoconference. www.gregshapiro.nl
Photography Jaiwey Nuij
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