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Sinterklaas - Saint Nicholas arrives in Amsterdam with 'Black Pete'

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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010.
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in Arts & Entertainment, on the 14th of November 2010

Saint Nicolas arrrives during the Sinterklaas parade.

ID: 508470
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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Saint Nicolas arrrives during the Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010. Sinterklaas, the basis for Saint Nicolas arrrives during the Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010. Sinterklaas, the basis for Sa

ID: 508471
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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Kids meet Black Peter at Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010. Sinterklaas, the basis for Santa Claus in other countries, is accompanied by Black Peter, played by multitudes of white Dutch people in greasepaint.

ID: 508468
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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Participant dressed as Black Peter at Sinterklaas parade, Amsterdam Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010. Sinterklaas, is accompanied by Black Peter, played by Dutch people in black make up

ID: 508482
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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Asian child wearing Saint Nicolas Mitre at Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010. Sinterklaas, the basis for Santa Claus in other countries, arrives from Spain by boat and parades the streets on horseback.

ID: 508478
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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Black Pete with motorcycle policeman at Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010

ID: 508480
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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Children waiting for Saint Nicolas at Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010. Sinterklaas, the basis for Santa Claus in other countries, arrives from Spain by boat, before riding the streets on horseback.

ID: 508481
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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Boy wearing St. Nicolas mitre and cape at Sinterklaas parade, Amsterdam at Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010.

ID: 508479
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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Dog statue wearing Saint Nicolas mitre during Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010. The dog is a detail from the Dutch national monument, commemorating World War II.

ID: 508475
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In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Saint Nicolas arrrives during the Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam, 14th November 2010. Sinterklaas, the basis for Santa Claus in other countries, arrives from Spain by boat, and rides the streets on horseback.

ID: 508472
More Info
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

Saint Nicolas on horseback during Sinterklaas parade, Dam Square, Amsterdam. The basis for Santa Claus in other countries, arrives from Spain by boat, accompanied by Black Peter, played by white people in black facepaint.

ID: 508469
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Description: 

In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas, the basis for Santa Claus in other countries arrives early - in mid-November - by ship from Spain, and parades through the streets with his helper Zwarte Piet - Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. There are hundreds of Zwarte Pieten (Black Peters), mainly white Dutch people in blackface - some say this is a symbol of colonial stereotyping, while some traditions claim that it's because Black Pete was a chimney sweep. In any event, Sinterklaas delights children of all races by riding through the parade route through the packed streets of Amsterdam on a grey horse called Amerigo.

Arts & Entertainment, bizarre, Black Pete, black-up, blacked-up, child, children, christmas, costume, horse, parade, quirky, racist, santa, santa claus, strange, Tradition, traditional, weird, Christmas, Festival, Christianity , Religion, Society

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Dave Walsh is a natural history and environmental fine art photographer, currently based in Dublin, Ireland. His work as an e... Read more.

In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas arrives early in mid-November by boat from Spain, and parades through the streets with this his helper Black Pete, a character subject to some racial controversy. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 14/11/2010

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