Nine procedures for national slavery museum in Amsterdam
The municipality has nine possible locations in mind for a new museum about the national slavery history in the city. During the year, three quartermasters will work out a definitive plan. “A big step,” says the municipality.
The Kop Java Island and the Sixhaven are two of the possible locations. The college has the ambition to realize a museum with a ‘national appeal’ in a new building. The property will have approximately 6,500 square meters of public space and will be surrounded by a park.
In the meantime, the main content of the new museum has also been used. The museum’s implementation should target a broad audience, with a focus on art, knowledge and research and education, according to the college. There must be room for the slavery past as a whole and not only show the Dutch slave trade around West Africa, Suriname and the Caribbean islands, but also that around the Indian Ocean, where the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) was active.
The three-year time makers will be given, a business plan will be drawn up of the content, the organization, accommodation, a plan, cost estimate and temporary programming have been worked out. The quartermasters each have a specific profile: one social, one museological and one physical.
The new museum will be funded by the state and the city, and the college hopes it will open in 2025, as the city celebrates its 750th anniversary.