Dutch municipalities observed the annual Keti Koti commemorations on July 1, 2026, to mark the historical abolition of slavery.
Communities in Zeeland and Hoorn held solemn gatherings and raised flags to confront local colonial histories.
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Commemorations in Middelburg
In Middelburg, an evening wake took place at the Zeeland Slavery Monument, drawing around 60 attendees. The event featured traditional mourning attire and memorial songs.
Angélique Duijndam, chairwoman of Keti Koti Zeeland, introduced the performing women as "tantes." The women sang ten memorial songs to honor African ancestors who were enslaved.
During a dinner at the historic Middelburgse Commercie Compagnie warehouse, Duijndam noted resistance to acknowledging the local slave trade.
She described the pushback as "laatste stuiptrekkingen" (final convulsions).
She expressed anger regarding municipal decisions to alter historical walking routes or omit key colonial figures, calling such actions "giftig" (toxic).
Former director of the Zeeland Archives, Hannie Kool-Blokland, stated that local recognition of slavery history developed gradually over decades, "stapje voor stapje" (step by step).
She recalled receiving critical feedback during the initial exhibitions organized in the 1990s and early 2000s. "Toen kregen we best veel commentaar.
Waarom moeten we dat weten? Waarom is dat nu belangrijk?
De weerstand en onbekendheid was groot," she said.
Siegfried Steglich, co-initiator of the slavery monument, emphasized that the nation's historical missteps must be actively studied rather than dismissed.
He referred to "de zwarte bladzijde waar Rutte het over had" (the black page that Rutte spoke about).
