Amsterdam: built on slavery and colonialism

The past 20 years we have seen a redefinement of what the 'Dutch Golden Age' really entailed for the Netherlands and if we should still call it a 'Golden' age. 

In the summer of 2008, a fascinating exhibition about the representation of black people by Dutch and Flemish artists, from late medieval to modern times, was held at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. This was followed in 2020 by 'Black in Rembrandt's time',  a groundbreaking exhibition at the  Rembrandt House, discussing the history of Holland's black community and the way in which stereotypes that later fixed the image of black people were yet to prevail.

In 2021 Amsterdam residents were offered a free book on the city’s links with slavery and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam held the widely acclaimed exhibition 'Slavery'. 

The Mauritshuis Museum hosted the exhibition 'Loot - 10 stories' about the struggles museums have with stolen art. And in 2023 the Dutch King Willem-Alexander finally apologized for for the Netherlands' Role in the Slave Trade.

Time to add to the narrative that Amsterdam and the Netherlands was built on its entrepreneurial explorers!

Delivered by Mariska Beekenkamp-Wladimiroff

Upon booking an automated email will be send including instructions on how to join. Members of our database will be able to buy access to the replay after the event is over.