The Dutch version of festive St. Nicholas is once again landing on the naughty list for some in the Netherlands , who say his Black Pete sidekick is a racist throwback to the colonial era . Protesters gathered Sunday at Amsterdam 's festival honoring St. Nicholas -- or Sinterklaas as he is known in Dutch -- a day after 90 people were arrested in demonstrations surrounding his ceremonial arrival in country at the Dutch city of Gouda . They carried signs reading , `` Black Pete is racism . '' Only one person was arrested in Sunday 's event , according to CNN affiliate RTL and Dutch national broadcaster NOS . In the Netherlands , Sinterklaas is accompanied by a dark-skinned figure , often played by whites in black face who wear curly afro-style wigs and red lip coloring . The character sometimes visits private home and hands out candy to children but also is reputed to take away the naughty ones . The tradition has grown increasingly contentious in recent years , with the United Nations arguing last year in favor of a national dialogue on the practice . Experts working under the auspices of the Office of the High Commissioner for Humam Rights last year said people of African descent found the character 's depiction `` rooted in unacceptable , colonial attitudes that they find racist and offensive . '' The Dutch government replied that it was aware that the practice was offensive to some , and that it had received dozens of complaints a year concerning Black Pete since 2011 . Last week , a high-level Dutch court declined to rule on the controversy .
Dutch `` Black Pete '' tradition draws fire again with protests and arrests . In the Netherlands , Black Pete accompanies St. Nicholas . Some say the tradition is racist and offensive .