The exhibition tells the true stories of people who lived in slavery, were slave owners, people who resisted or who were brought to the Netherlands in slavery.
Opened by Willem-Alexander
The exhibition was opened by King Willem-Alexander at the time. It was the first time that the Rijsmuseum held an exhibition about that part of the colonial past.
“The recognition of the impact slavery has had and continues to have on world history is of great importance,” said museum director Taco Dibbits. “That is why we are very grateful to the United Nations for drawing attention to this through this exhibition.”
Ten stories about footcuffs
The exhibition, which was chosen by the UN from several entries, will be named ‘Slavery. Ten True Stories of Dutch Colonial Slavery.’.
Ten personal stories from the original exhibition are shown around one object from the Rijksmuseum collection: a leg iron in which several people could be chained. The film Nieuw Licht can also be seen, in which documentary maker Ida Does follows the team of curators in the creation of the exhibition in 2021.
