It’s official, both the wedding and the fact that the Dutch are taking Zwarte Piet way too serious. Seriously. We get it now, you love Zwarte Piet, enough now. Anyway – the point is, sigh, two people actually made Zwarte Piet their wedding theme. A little cringe, or a lot, but still…
Two Pieten, Two Rings and One Wedding.
The small town of Noordwijkerhout, in the province of Zuid-Holland, was recently the scene of one very special wedding. Cough. A “Zwarten Pieten”-wedding! That’s right! For those among us who can’t let go of their childhood and have no interest in the feelings of minorities – it’s one big celebration!
Okay, in all seriousness, we’re not going to accuse the married couple of (hidden) discrimination, we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. So, first of all, congratulations to you newly weds and we genuinely wish you the best. Secondly, why?
Anyway – the two Pieten, known only as “Piet Juan” and “Piet HP”, we’re going to take a stab at it and guess those are aliases, fell massively in love with each other and decided that black facing themselves on their wedding was the best way to celebrate things.
Saturday the 18th of November, Sinterklaas’ assistants were wedded during the dear Sint’s arrival in the small town. The ceremony was officiated by the Mayor of Noordwijkerhout, Mayor Goedhart at the townhall. Yep…
Much Attention, Such Cool.
Needless to say the wedding drew quite some attention, not in the least because Sinterklaas, his Senior Chief Piet and the married couple then went around the town center as part of the parade, to much delight of local kids and attendees.
Again, we realize this was probably with the best intentions, and undoubtedly the kids loved it. Regardless, this whole Zwarte Piet-thing is starting to itch. As Dutch people we can keep screaming it’s all just in good spirit, but if we’re putting this much pressure on it, it’s not all in good spirit. And yes, of course, some people will cry in our comments how they, as indigenous Dutch(wo)men, feel so terribly discriminated – if this already makes you feel badly discriminated to a point where it ruins your life, can you imagine how actual black and colored people feel when they are called Zwarte Piet or other, perhaps stronger, terms? Or that doesn’t matter? Just think about it…
Regardless, we hope the marriage lasts and they will have fond memories of the wedding – but please, don’t black face the baby once it’s due!
Dressing up as a racist blackface charicature is so important in NL that they even marry in it pic.twitter.com/CqSAbBw57M
— Mariquon ???????? (@Mariquon) 28 november 2017
