AMSTERDAM (AP) — Amsterdam’s mayor and the organizers of a large children’s winter festival have unveiled plans to overhaul the image of “Black Pete” — the sidekick to the Dutch Santa Claus — after protests that the character exhibited racist elements.

Mayor Eberhard van der Laan said Thursday that Pete’s appearance will be changed over several years from his current blackface to make him look like he has been merely covered with soot from going down chimneys to deliver presents.