The owner of a party and costume shop in The Netherlands will be handing out free Indian dress-up costumes and face paint to every child who visits his store on Saturday 23 February, 2019.
Bert Felling, who runs FeestXpert in Wamel, finds it ‘crazy’ that cowboy- and Indian costumes are considered racist and as such will be giving every child who visits his shop on Saturday, February 23rd, a free Indian costume and free Indian face paint.
“I am tired of the whole racism debate,” said Bert. “Nowhere in the world has it gone as crazy as here in the Netherlands. I’m sick of it. Only here it happens, nowhere else.” According to him, his Indian costume action must be seen as a counter reaction to; “the racism debate that has gone crazy.”
FeestXpert was vandalized just before carnival last year, with ‘Costume ≠ culture’ graffiti appearing on his shop window. “The big question is why,” Bert continued. “I am not a racist. But I do have Indian dolls in the shop window. That is just part of the party like carnival. I find it unbelievable that people nowadays call something like this racism.”
Bert will also be dressing up as an Indian this Saturday, as will his staff. “I especially want to keep it very playful. It must be a nice, fun party for the children.”
