Seminar New Perspectives on Slavery History: Local, Regional and National

On 11 October 2023, thirty researchers gathered at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam. Along side Dutch historian Wim Manuhutu, various projects on the slavery past from a variety of institutions were discussed. The day aimed to bring together some representatives of smaller as well as larger projects of local, regional and national research for the first time in years. In doing so, the organisers (IISG, KITLV, NiNsee and University of Curaçao) aimed to build a bridge between the various different studies. As Manuhutu made clear at the opening of the day, research on the history of slavery is at a crossroads. The seminar offered an opportunity to weave together the story of the Dutch state with its colonial past, and bringing local, regional and national perspectives to this.

There were fourteen short presentations by Esther Captain (on the research on Royal Family), Merel Blok (on the research on Schiedam), Else Gootjes (on the research on Gelderland and Arnhem), Barbara Henkes (on the research on Friesland and Groningen), Bart van Holsteijn (on the research on the Insinger Foundation), Bente de Leede (on the research on Sri Lanka and colonial religion), Martin van der Linde (on the research on Overijssel and Deventer) Larissa Schulte Nordholt (on the Wageningen University research), Eva Seuntjens (on the NN Group research), Gerard Snikkenburg (on the Brabant research), Dineke Stam (on the Haarlem research), Martijn Stoutjesdijk (on the Dutch Reformed Church research), Joris van der Tol (on the South Holland research) and Ingrid van der Vlis (on the Delft research). The presentations, introduced every projects and further focussed on the methodology of the project. After each block of presentations, there was an opportunity for the audience to react. Here nice group discussions ensued in which, among other things, eurocentrism in slavery research and the role of restorative justice were reflected upon. To wrap up the day, a panel of sociologist and historians discussed the afterlives of slavery and the importance of research into the topic.

11 October 2023

10.00 - 16.30

IISH, Amsterdam