Ninsee
Encyclopedia
The National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (NiNsee) is based in Amsterdam
, Netherlands
and was established to document the history of Dutch
Slavery
from various perspectives. NiNsee is an institute for researchers, educators and historians. It is the dynamic component of an initiative taken by the Dutch government in 2001 to erect a monument to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the Netherlands
and to create and institute to research, discuss and process the history of Dutch slavery and its legacy.
History
In 1999, the Landelijke Platform Slavernijverleden took the initiative to erect a monument with a static and dynamic dimension, the National Monument for Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (Nationaal Monument Slavernijverleden). On 1 July, 2002 in the Oosterpark
, Amsterdam
, the static monument was unveiled in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and many other honored guests from the Netherlands and abroad. The dynamic monument, the National Institute for Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (NiNsee) was opened on 1 July, 2003 upon the national commemoration of the abolition of slavery
140 years ago.
Mission
The mission of NiNsee is to develop and position itself as the national symbol of the shared legacy of Dutch slavery and the collective future of all Dutch people. NiNsee inventorises the tangible heritage in the form of "monuments" to the slave trade and slavery. These include plantations, forts and structures that were utilized to house slaves in Suriname, the Netherlands Antilles
, Aruba
and the west coast of Africa
, Ghana
. NiNsee also documents the oral history of slavery to help stimulate awareness of the collective history of slavery. NiNsee organizes conferences and workshops to shed light on the history of Dutch slavery and its impact on Dutch society from varied and diverse perspectives, on an international and national level. The institute has the goal of realizing a nuanced and realistic image of Dutch slavery and its legacy.
of the party Democrats 66
was integral to the process of coordinating the project. Through much discussion and debate, the realization of the plan was announced on July 1, 2000 and the municipality of Amsterdam
announced its readiness to host the monument. Surinamese
artist Erwin de Vries
was asked to create the monument.
At the same time, there was growing interest in the Dutch colonial past and a general development towards reconsidering, recalibrating and rewriting the historiography of the former Dutch overseas colonies. As a result of the above developments, the involvement of the Netherlands in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery
now forms part of the 50 windows of the Dutch historical and cultural canon.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and was established to document the history of Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
Slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
from various perspectives. NiNsee is an institute for researchers, educators and historians. It is the dynamic component of an initiative taken by the Dutch government in 2001 to erect a monument to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and to create and institute to research, discuss and process the history of Dutch slavery and its legacy.
History
In 1999, the Landelijke Platform Slavernijverleden took the initiative to erect a monument with a static and dynamic dimension, the National Monument for Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (Nationaal Monument Slavernijverleden). On 1 July, 2002 in the Oosterpark
Oosterpark
Oosterpark may refer to:*Oosterpark , a park in Amsterdam*Oosterpark Stadion, an association football stadion in Groningen...
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the static monument was unveiled in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and many other honored guests from the Netherlands and abroad. The dynamic monument, the National Institute for Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (NiNsee) was opened on 1 July, 2003 upon the national commemoration of the abolition of slavery
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
140 years ago.
Mission
The mission of NiNsee is to develop and position itself as the national symbol of the shared legacy of Dutch slavery and the collective future of all Dutch people. NiNsee inventorises the tangible heritage in the form of "monuments" to the slave trade and slavery. These include plantations, forts and structures that were utilized to house slaves in Suriname, the Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antilles
The Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint...
, Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
and the west coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. NiNsee also documents the oral history of slavery to help stimulate awareness of the collective history of slavery. NiNsee organizes conferences and workshops to shed light on the history of Dutch slavery and its impact on Dutch society from varied and diverse perspectives, on an international and national level. The institute has the goal of realizing a nuanced and realistic image of Dutch slavery and its legacy.
Background
The decision to establish the institute was influenced by a number of national and international developments. On the national front, descendants of slaves questioned the recognition of their heritage and the impact it has had on their position in current society. A petition for a monument was first produced during a conference organized by the Afro-European Women's Movement, Sophiedela. In September 1998, this petition was submitted to the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Minister Roger van BoxtelRoger van Boxtel
Roger Henri Ludovic Maria van Boxtel is a Dutch politician.-References:* at "Parlement & Politiek" site...
of the party Democrats 66
Democrats 66
Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
was integral to the process of coordinating the project. Through much discussion and debate, the realization of the plan was announced on July 1, 2000 and the municipality of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
announced its readiness to host the monument. Surinamese
Surinamese people
Surinamese people are the inhabitants of Suriname or people of Surinamese descent. Suriname had formerly been the colony of Dutch Guiana which was founded during the early 17th century. Following Suriname's independence in 1975, many Surinamers migrated to the Netherlands...
artist Erwin de Vries
Erwin de Vries
Erwin de Vries is a Surinamese painter and sculptor. He is the half-brother of Henry Lucien de Vries, who served as governor of Suriname from 1965 until 1967. De Vries studied in the Netherlands with Ossip Zadkine. His work has since been displayed at the Stedelijk Museum and the Nationaal...
was asked to create the monument.
At the same time, there was growing interest in the Dutch colonial past and a general development towards reconsidering, recalibrating and rewriting the historiography of the former Dutch overseas colonies. As a result of the above developments, the involvement of the Netherlands in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
now forms part of the 50 windows of the Dutch historical and cultural canon.