Groningen Confronts Its Past: Apologizing for Its Role in Slavery
As the first city in the North, the municipality of Groningen will apologize for the role that the city council played in the history of slavery on May 16 which is the International Day of Living Together in Peace.
In the Netherlands, there is growing attention on the history of slavery and the suffering caused by the slave trade. In 2022, the municipality commissioned the RUG and the Groninger Museum to conduct research on the then-city council's role and involvement in the VOC and the WIC.
The VOC traded in Asia and had a trade monopoly, which meant that it was the only company (in the Republic) allowed to trade in Asia. The West India Company (WIC) had a trade monopoly in America and engaged in the slave trade.
"Our city of Groningen has been involved in a terrible crime,"
researchers Anjana Singh, Lieuwe Jongsma, and Bram Tánczos wrote in their report 'The slavery history of Groningen'.
"Several people who lived and worked in Groningen acquired wealth through overseas trade, the dark side of which was slavery and the trade in enslaved people."
Groningen residents participated in both the VOC and the WIC.
The occasion will take place in the town hall at 19:00. Since the ceremony is only for invited attendees, there will be a livestream available.