A Dutch community group in New South Wales is refusing to retire the controversial Christmas character, Zwarte Piet, despite most cities in the Netherlands phasing it out or banning it entirely.
Zwarte Piet — or Black Pete — is a broom-wielding enforcer for Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas), who has often been represented by children painted in blackface for the role.
The practice has generated increasing outrage in recent years, but for the 67-year-old Dutch Australian Society in the Illawarra (DASI) on the NSW South Coast, old ways die hard — or not at all.
"It's been a point of discussion for a number of years in the Netherlands," Jos Kusters said, the secretary of DASI's Woonona clubhouse.
"Here in Australia it's not that much of a topic for discussion — it's tradition.
"I think there has to be a distinction between this tradition and offending somebody.
"I don't think that what we are celebrating in anyway shape or form has any intention to offend or put somebody down.
"It's really just that Sinterklaas had helpers and they were of black skin so we are representing that.
"That's really all there is to it — I don't think anybody here sees any reference to somebody of colour."
'Not a keeper of slaves, but a freer of slaves'
DASI president John Vliestra said that while Black Pete's origin was rooted in rapacious colonialism, Sinterklaas had great affection for his north African subordinates.
"In history, when Saint Nicholas moved from Turkey where he was born, to Spain, he adopted quite a few slaves and they were Moors," he said.
"They came from Algeria and Africa and they were black people.
"Saint Nicholas adopted them and they became his assistants — his helpers.
"He was very good to them because he didn't believe in racism or subjugation by these people. He actually loved his Black Petes."
'Unique' photos for parents
Belinda Oerleman's grandfather helped to build the Dutch club in Woonona in 1952 and said she has a lifetime of fond memories of Dutch Christmases and culture.
"All his grandchildren, we all go to the Dutch Clubhouse," she said.
Up until the age of 12 children receive a present from Saint Nicholas and the Black Petes.
"It's extremely exciting when you are a child, and very memorable."
"All the parents in the audience with their children want that photograph with Saint Nicholas and the Black Petes," Ms Oerleman said.
"It's really important to them — they will not leave without that photo, because having the Black Petes in the photo is something that's very unique."
Her husband, Mr Oerleman, has been in charge of painting and dressing the Black Petes — a voluntary role that this year attracted three participants.
Netherlands phases out black character
While Dutch communities in Australia and around the globe hang on to Black Pete — the Illawarra's Dutch community is not an outlier — the majority of the Netherlands has put an end to the character.
Most Dutch television networks have axed Pete or depicted him in racially neutral ways, and the country's municipalities have all followed suit.
In Amsterdam, according to the Dutch Embassy, Zwarte Pete has become known as "Chimney Pete", while in The Hague, which banned Black Pete altogether in primary schools in 2017, has been moving towards "Acceptable Pete".
The city of Heemstede has opted to go with no Pete at all, apparently in compliance with the recommendation of the children's ombudsman.
Maastrich, however, reported "more Chimney Petes than last year" and said it also had "a number of Pete characters who are painted black or brown".
In Dordrecht in the western part of the country, Petes have been "dark brown" but did not sport gold earrings or red lips.
This year, due to a lack of volunteers, the Dutch clubhouse president in Adelaide stepped-up to help Sinterklaas at the children's concert.
Maurice McLeod, 77, has been married for 50 years to Dutch woman, Henni, and volunteered for the role of "Sooty Pete".
"We lightened up the faces. Previously he was quite black with lipstick on as well," he said.
"Usually it's a young person [who plays Sooty Pete] but because of shortage of numbers this year I was one. I was whitish-brown — a bit splotchy.
"If you go down someone's chimney you are not going to be snow-white, you're going to be dirty."
"He's a cheeky character, always getting into mischief, but he assists Saint Nicholas so he's necessary."
'I can't see it being politically incorrect'
After round-table discussions in 2017, which followed increasingly heated protests in the country, the Dutch social services minister issued a statement on the tradition:
"We distance ourselves from threats, violence, polarisation and aggression in any form.
We call for calm and for a civilised and respectful dialogue.
The best interests of the child are paramount. We want to ensure that Sinterklaas is a festive occasion for all children."
But for Ms Oerleman and the Dutch community in the Illawarra, the idea that Pete could prove so divisive has been all but unthinkable.
"Not in Australia, no," she said.
"The Dutch are very traditional here — I can't see it being politically incorrect here, not for a long time.
"We've never had a problem."
But Dr Alex Bevan, an ethnographer and lecturer in digital media at the University of Queensland, told triple j's Hack program in 2018 that the practice is steeped in prejudice.
"Blackface is never, ever, ever acceptable," Dr Bevan said.
"Blackface is deeply rooted in a long history of minstrelsy.
"Minstrelsy was a form of entertainment where white performers donned blackface to humiliate and shame black identity and the black bodies.
"Blackface boils down to a form of symbolic violence to people of colour that cannot be divorced from minstrelsy and its power dynamics."
.png?w=600)
