Charlois neighbourhood council refuses €1,250 for Sinterklaas arrival

The official Sinterklaas arrival (intocht) in Rotterdam-Charlois will go ahead. On Tuesday evening, one of the district's neighbourhood councils (wijkraad) decided not to pay its €1,250 contribution, saying the event is not inclusive enough.

The other three neighbourhood councils in Charlois want to pay the contribution jointly from their own funds. Angela Stolwijk, chair of the Oud-Charlois and Wielewaal council, says they will definitely do so.

Council chair Inge Pechler said the council is in favour of a children's party but against the Sinterklaas tradition. Members decided out of conviction, she said. "For many people it remains a painful feast, because of the colonial past." The tradition has been adapted over the years, she said, but not enough.

Stolwijk was at the heated meeting. "There were emotional pleas to do it after all, but they stuck to their position. They have that right, but it is not proper not to listen to the residents. I was bewildered," she said.

Organiser Arjan van Es said the arrival will go ahead whatever happens, and that he is grateful the other councils are picking up the bill. "Everything is already arranged. The children are the most important," he said.