The Slavery Monument is a memorial commemorating the Dutch history of slavery, located in the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands. The monument was designed by Alex da Silva and is situated on Lloydkade in the Lloyd Quarter of the Delfshaven district.
History
editFrom the 17th to the 19th century, weapons, pottery, and spirits were traded in the Lloyd Quarter. These goods were shipped to Africa, where they were exchanged for slaves. The Rotterdam ships then transported these slaves to Suriname and the Dutch Antilles, where they were traded for goods such as coffee and sugar, which were then shipped back to Rotterdam.[1][2] In this Transatlantic slave trade, companies like Coopstad en Rochussen played a role, being the largest trading company in the Netherlands after the Middelburgsche Commercie Compagnie.[3]
As of 2013, more than 80,000 descendants of slaves live in Rotterdam.[4][5]
The Slavery Monument was unveiled on June 16, 2013.[3][1][6] On July 1, 2015, it was exactly 150 years since slavery was abolished in the Netherlands.[1] The nearby STC-Group college has adopted the monument.[2]
Design
editThe monument is made of corten steel and thermally galvanized steel, measuring 900 centimeters in length, 450 centimeters in height, and 120 centimeters in width. The sculpture takes the form of a stylized ship, atop which figures dance towards their freedom.[2][1] Of the four dancing slaves, the first is still fully chained, while the last is completely free, dancing.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Wiersma, Sara (2015-06-24). "Slavernijmonument: zwaar onderwerp, licht materiaal". Vers Beton (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ a b c "Keti Koti Rotterdam is under construction". ketikotirotterdam.nl. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ a b "Nieuws". IsGeschiedenis (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ "Slavernijmonument in Rotterdam". nos.nl (in Dutch). 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ "Rotterdam heeft eigen slavernijmonument". Historiek (in Dutch). 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ "Slavernijmonument onthuld in Rotterdam". www.rijnmond.nl (in Dutch). 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
