When taken?
The picture was taken at the Heuvel Gallery. We had gone for a walk after a heavy dinner.

What do we see?
Sinterklaas’ assistant Zwarte Piet, sitting on a shoe probably tucking in a gift for a good kid.
I see him everywhere - in stores, streets, bars, live and as dummies. Why, he even came into our offices and sprayed ‘pepernoten’ on all of us.

Why this picture?
Coming from a place where we have summer all year round, the biting cold winter and the early setting sun in Eindhoven make it rather depressing. But for the past few weeks the Sinterklaas spirit is just about everywhere. The beautifully lit streets, the songs, the traditions and the merriment that comes along with it, all of these sweep everybody into a celebration mode. I think the whole deal is for kids mostly, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. At some level we will always be children.