Click image to zoom

The "New St. Nicholas" arrival to Amsterdam

November 25th, Amsterdam. Patrick Mathurin, who play this year again the new St. Nicholas (De Nieuwe Sint) arrived on his boat with his helpers to start the party and the good vibes of the New St. Nicholas in Amsterdam. Mathurin said he does not wish to interfere in the Pete discussion. "I want a solution and not get stuck with the problem," he said. Patrick Mathurin (1972), was born in Haiti, is an actor and boxing trainer. Sinterklaas, a character who shares his roots with Santa Claus, is the central figure of the Dutch winter celebrations. Believed to spend most of his time in Spain, his arrival by boat is staged every year in an elaborate spectacle which is broadcast across the Netherlands. Most of the entertainment, however, is provided by Sinterklaas’s "helpers", the clown-like Black Petes, or Zwarte Pieten. Considered by many to be the best part of the whole tradition, Black Pete has a large fan base in the Netherlands. However, the image of white people with blackened faces has sparked worldwide controversy. Before the New St. Nicholas arrival to the start point, the leader of Pegida, Edwin Wagensveld and some members of the Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West showed up to support the Zwarte Piet in The Netherlands (Photo by Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#2343679
Date Taken	25 November 2017
Location	N/A
Photographer	Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

Alternative Amerigo Amsterdam Black Pete Christmas Christmas decoration De Nieuwe Sint Dressing Black Dutch Edwin Wagensveld Guus Meeuwis Mathurin Museumplein New Nikolaas November Patrick Mathurin Pegida Peters Saint Sinterklaas The Netherlands black black Piet blackface boat canal candies candy celebration children city hall cold conflict controversy costume costumes decoration discrimination discussion entry festivity fun gingerbread nuggets holiday horse intocht Sinterklaas kids parade people pepernoten racism religion river society songs the new St. Nicholas tradition white horse winter zwarte Piet

License This Photo

Digital Basic Editorial use on digital platforms only (websites, social media). Single use, up to 1 million monthly UVs. Worldwide distribution. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€35.00

Editorial Print & Digital For editorial use in print and digital publications such as newspapers, magazines, and textbooks. Single use, up to 10,000 copies or 1 million UVs. Worldwide distribution. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€99.00

Broadcast (TV & Digital) For editorial use in TV production or streaming platforms. Single use, all media rights excluding theatrical, with worldwide distribution in perpetuity. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€399.00

Total Price

€35.00

Secure checkout

Need a custom license?

Contact Sales