The UN advisor who came under attack last year for criticising the Dutch Zwarte Piet tradition was in Amsterdam on Tuesday for a fact-finding mission.

Verene Shepherd, an expert on slavery, is in the Netherlands with a team of UN experts to look at the position of people of African descent in the Netherlands. The delegation will also look at the Zwarte Piet debate and discuss the issues with social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher.

Shepherd was chairwoman of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent when she made comments about Zwarte Piet, the sidekick of Sinterklaas, in an interview.

Slavery

Shepherd was attacked in the Dutch media after saying she did not understand that ‘people in the Netherlands do not see [Zwarte Piet] is a throwback to slavery and that in the 21st century this practice should stop.’

She also said she did not see why the Netherlands wanted two Santa Clauses.

Every year the discussion flares up about the role of Zwarte Piet, played by a white person in black face make-up with a wig, red lips and gold earrings. Last year protestors tried to have the traditional Sinterklaas procession in Amsterdam banned because of the role of Zwarte Piet.

The delegation will hold a press conference on Friday, broadcaster Nos said.