Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
The National Monument of Dutch Slavery Past in Amsterdam's Oosterpark
The National Monument of Dutch Slavery Past in Amsterdam's Oosterpark - Credit: christophe.cappelli / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Politics
abolishment of slavery
Ninsee
Keti Koti
Slavery Remembrance
Amsterdam
Oosterpark
Wednesday, 1 July 2020 - 11:50
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Slavery Remembrance Day honored in closed ceremony, live broadcast

Due to the restrictions in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Netherlands' national commemoration of its slavery past will be a closed ceremony this year. The ceremony will take place at the National Monument of Dutch Slavery Past in Amsterdam's Oosterpark at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and was set to be broadcast live on television via NPO, NiNsee announced.

On Slavery Remembrance Day, the Netherlands commemorates two dates: 1 July 1863 and 1 July 1873. The first is the day on which the Kingdom of the Netherlands officially abolished slavery in Suriname and the former Dutch Antilles. But for the next decade, some freed people were still forced to work on the plantations in Suriname.

While the Netherlands banned the slave trade in 1814, 1 July 1873 marks the actual date where enslaved people became free, said NiNsee, the national institute for Dutch slavery history and heritage. As the 150th anniversary of this date approaches, several prominent political figures would like to see the recognition last not for weeks of events, but for an entire year of commemoration.

"We can use that year to provide additional information and dialogue on the dark pages of slavery in history," said Rob Jetten of D66 to RTL Nieuws. "But also about how it affects our society with regard to racism."

"It is important to jointly recognize history to be able to again build a future together," said Jesse Klaver, the Groenlinks party leader. Klaver told the broadcaster he wanted the history of slavery and the effects it had on the future to become a greater focus in education.

Slavery Remembrance Day is normally followed by the Keti Koti celebration and festival, celebrating the breaking of chains. These normally large, crowded events were cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • More people ditch TV for streamers; Dutch MPs want more investment in Dutch productions
  • Dutch authorities preparing for outbreak of candida auris, a fungus that can be lethal
  • Prague to Amsterdam flight also checked after bomb threat at Eindhoven Airport
  • Badger train stoppage will continue for weeks; Badgers digging in 40 locations
  • "Absolute Masterpiece": 9th century gold ring found in Drenthe
  • Person killed in violent incident in Nijmegen; Man arrested

Top stories

  • Dutch authorities preparing for outbreak of candida auris, a fungus that can be lethal
  • Badger train stoppage will continue for weeks; Badgers digging in 40 locations
  • European Commission pushed Netherlands to expropriate farmers in nitrogen crisis: report
  • Concerns about Ukrainian refugees being exploited in Netherlands
  • Home prices down 0.8% in Feb.; First year-on-year decrease in nearly a decade
  • Hospital workers to go back on strike in mid-April, unions say

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content