The Vianen entrepreneurs’ association expressed regret after a local newspaper mistakenly published a photo of Zwarte Piet in an advertisement for the upcoming Sinterklaas celebration. Zwarte Piet, criticized for perpetuating stereotypes, has been excluded from the official events for years. The association clarified that they did not choose the image, which was selected by the newspaper’s publisher, Kontakt, who labeled it a human error. The municipality echoed concerns about potentially offending community members, emphasizing inclusivity for the celebration, which will feature only soot-blackened helpers.