roetveegpiet

Roetveegpiet is a variant of the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition in which the helper of Sinterklaas, Piet, wears soot marks on the face rather than full blackface. The term combines the Dutch words roet (soot) and veeg (streak) with Piet. The appearance typically features smudged or streaked soot on the cheeks and forehead, leaving the rest of the face more natural, to suggest that the figure arrived from a chimney to deliver gifts.

In the Sinterklaas celebration, which centers on the arrival of Sinterklaas and the giving of presents to children, Piet is traditionally depicted as a helper who ascends the chimney to bring gifts. The roetveegpiet variant is presented as a practical adaptation of the character’s appearance, intended to convey the chimney origin while avoiding a fully blackened face.

The roetveegpiet concept emerged and gained prominence in the 2010s amid public debate over the use of Blackface in the Zwarte Piet tradition. Proponents argue that roetveegpiet reduces racial offense while preserving the cultural ritual. Critics contend that any depiction resembling racial caricature continues to stigmatize people of color and that the reforms do not address deeper issues of representation within the tradition.

Today, roetveegpiet is used in many municipalities and organizations in the Netherlands and parts of Belgium, though practices vary by region. Some communities continue to use traditional blackface Piet, while others adopt roetveegpiet or other non-blackface variants as part of ongoing discussions about inclusivity and cultural heritage.