First Step To Acknowledgement Of Slavery In Dutch History? ⛓️ National Monument Slavery Past

On one of our strolls through Amsterdam we came across Oosterpark and decided to walk through it to reach our destination and that's where I happened to "stumble" upon a masterpiece by one of the few renowned visual artists Suriname has produced: Erwin de Vries.

Years ago, this monument named National Monument Slavery Past, was highlighted multiple times in Suriname's newspapers for different - some positive, some negative - reasons. As I wasn't physically present at the time, I didn't remember the details nor the location, so when we encountered it I had to be still and take in the significance and story behind it all.

The controversy surrounding the making and unveiling (more details here) of this monument only reinforced the importance of letting this art piece tell a bit of history, of equally the Afro (colored) community as of the "native" Dutch community (former Colonizer). It is significant for the Afro community because it highlights a piece of history, that isn't openly/formerly acknowledged (yet). We shouldn't avoid discussing the darker part of our shared history.

The beauty of this monument lies in the three stages depicted: past, present and future. Mainly that of the enslaved period (people living in bondage), period of breaking the wall of shackles and bondage and being truly free and embracing and welcoming the future (third and largest sculpture).

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Taking in all this information, I found Break Free by Loyal Flames a fitting song. Though the song isn't mainly about the history of slavery, it does speak upon the (mental) slavery people nowadays face and that we should break free from it. It's a state of mind and we should take control of our own lives and do our part.

To close off, I have not been long enough in this country to truly know what the feelings and opinions are at the moment, of the people living in this country in general, regardless from which perspective. All I can do now is to listen and try to understand. Starting with: is revealing a monument enough or a good start in the acknowledgement or should there formerly be apologies from the former Colonizer? I would like to read about it in the comments below or better yet in your very own APART post 🤓.