Asha Jethoe, 41, who was born in Suriname but moved to the Netherlands when she was six, was at the intocht with her family. She said: “We don’t see it as colour, but it should be something fun for the children, and not associated with discrimination. All of the debate about Zwarte Piet has been fanning the flames. But children just want a Piet who gives them presents – they don’t care if he is white or black.”