Dutch Slave Trade Lasted Longer and Affected More People Than Thought

The Netherlands, a nation with a complex and often uncomfortable history regarding its colonial past, is confronting new research that significantly broadens our understanding of its involvement in the slave trade. Leendert van der Valk's recently published book, 'Vergeten plekken, vergeten mensen' (Forgotten Places, Forgotten People), challenges the long-held narrative that the Dutch slave trade primarily involved around 600,000 Africans in the trans-Atlantic route.

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600.000 Afrikanen

Van der Valk, drawing on extensive archival research and recent historical studies, presents a compelling case that the Dutch slave trade was far more extensive in both duration and geographical reach. His work highlights "forgotten places and forgotten people," detailing historical narratives from diverse regions such as Tobago, Angola, Taiwan, and Japan, and crucially, the Indonesian archipelago where slavery persisted into the 20th century. This challenges the common perception, often reinforced by sources like Wikipedia and schoolbooks, that limits the scope of Dutch slavery.

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1,5 miljoen

This new research is particularly significant for the Netherlands as it forces a reckoning with the full extent of its historical exploitation. While the trans-Atlantic route is well-documented due to its nature as a trade, Van der Valk argues that focusing solely on it omits millions of individuals – those born into slavery, those who perished before transport, and those enslaved in the vast "East" under Dutch influence. This broader perspective is crucial for a more complete and honest national memory.

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Vergeten plekken, vergeten mensen

As a music journalist and journalism lecturer, Van der Valk's own journey into this research began with an interest in cultural exchange, leading him to the slavery past. His engagement with projects like The New York Times' '1619' project spurred him to investigate Dutch connections, revealing the extent of Dutch involvement even in seemingly non-Dutch historical events. This meticulous work, presented as an "atlas" of the Dutch slave past, is essential for a nation grappling with its legacy and striving for a more accurate historical account.

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Zeker. Er zijn allerlei plaatsen en groepen mensen aan verbonden die we niet in beeld hebben.