Conference | Book presentation
The Dutch Transatlantic Slave Trade
- Camilla de Koning, Matthias Lukkes, Ben van Yperen, Michael Thomas Rowland, Suze Zijlstra, Peggy Brandon
- Date
- Friday 7 February 2025
- Time
- Address
- Het Scheepvaartmuseum
Kattenburgerplein 1
1018 KK Amsterdam
What started as a MA seminar at the Leiden University Institute for History a few years ago, has turned into the edited volume The Dutch Transatlantic Slave Trade. New Methods, Perspectives, and Sources (eds. Ramona Negrón, Jessica den Oudsten, Camilla de Koning en Karwan Fatah-Black - Amsterdam University Press) with groundbreaking, new work on the Dutch transatlantic slave trade. This volume consists of articles from former MA students, as well as contributions Aviva Ben-Ur and Sowande' Mustakeem.
Following an introduction by Suze Zijlstra to the new exhibition Shadows over the Atlantic Ocean, several authors will discuss their research by highlighting selected objects on display. Afterwards, a copy of the book will be presented to Peggy Brandon, who will speak about the cultural and religious significance of cowrie shells. You are then warmly invited to view the exhibition.
*Please note: The programme will be conducted in Dutch.*
-> Tickets
Programme
13.30 - 14.00 | Welcome with coffee and tea
14.00 - 14.15 | Suze Zijlstra on Shadows over the Atlantic
14.15 - 15.15 | Presentations by authors on objects from the exhibition:
- Camilla de Koning: on the experiences of the enslaved aboard the slave ships Geertruyda & Christina (1783–1785) and Zeemercuur (1787–1789)
- Matthias Lukkes: on African “bombas” aboard Dutch slave ships
- Ben van Yperen: on the slave trade of ships sailing from the Netherlands to West Africa and back
- Michael Thomas Rowland: on how written sources from the MCC archive provide insight into the stories of trading, racism, and humanity
- Florian van Herrendorf: on the WIC’s involvement in the slave trade on São Tomé (1641–1649)
15.15 - 15.30 | Peggy Brandon on the cultural and religious significance of cowrie shells
15.30 - 17.00 | Reception with refreshments and visit to the exhibition