The police dispersed a group of people in De Lier on Saturday who were throwing fireworks at the Kick Out Zwarte Piet demonstrators, among other things. Officers with shields and batons tried to keep the two groups apart beforehand, according to an ANP reporter on the scene.
Even though the discussions on Sinterklaas surrounding the "Zwarte Piet" have intensified in recent years and polarized the Dutch, the controversial holiday is still very popular. Around 68 percent celebrated Sinterklaas last year, AD reported.
Gorinchem expects 20,000 visitors during the national Sinterklaas arrival. On Saturday, November 18, the saint and his Piets will arrive in the old fortress town, which has a population of 37,000. "So, a large number of people will be entering the fortress. For our city, this is certainly one of the biggest events," said a spokesperson for the municipality located in Zuid-Holland.
Activist group Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) will organise actions in at least four locations in the coming weeks to protest against the presence of Zwarte Piet during the traditional Sinterklaas parade. A demonstration is scheduled for November 18 in De Lier, Zuid-Holland. The next day, the activists will go to Drunen and Etten-Leur in Noord-Brabant, and a protest is planned for November 25 in Enter, Overijssel.