Zwarte Piet

Portraits of department store employees dressed as Zwarte Piet (Black Piet), made in 2011 in downtown Amsterdam. Zwarte Piet is the helper of Sinterklaas, and together they deliver presents to Dutch children on the evening of 5 December. With each passing year, this winter festival elicits more and more heated debates in The Netherlands regarding the historical role and identity of Zwarte Piet. In the meantime, major department stores no longer hire people to dress up as Zwarte Piet.