THE HAGUE - The Dutch Cabinet has approved the appointment of Astrid Elburg as the chair of the newly established Slavery Memorial Committee. This committee will oversee the planning and organization of the commemoration of the trans-Atlantic slavery past.
The eight involved ministers will inform the House of Representatives by letter about the establishment of the Slavery Memorial Committee and its mandate. This marks another significant step following the formal apologies.
Astrid Elburg (66) was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, and resides in Amsterdam. As an organizational consultant, she guides organizations in inclusive leadership. She is also a lecturer at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Nyenrode Business University. Elburg brings extensive managerial experience, serving as the chair of the Supervisory Board at Muiderslot.
Regarding her appointment, Elburg stated, “I am motivated to further the story of the communities I come from. To translate the story to society and pass it on to future generations.”
State Secretary Van Huffelen, the coordinating minister for the Slavery History Program, emphasized the profound impact of Dutch involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery on the societies of the Kingdom and Suriname.
Van Huffelen stressed the importance of acknowledging this past and commemorating it with dignity. “The history of slavery is a shared history. To reflect on this chapter and keep the attention to the slavery past alive, it is essential to commemorate it together.”
The Cabinet has announced an annual budget of €8 million for the Slavery Memorial Committee.
Mandate of the Committee
The independent memorial committee will oversee the planning and organization of a grand and dignified commemoration of the trans-Atlantic slavery past. This includes focusing on the significance of commemoration, involving Afro-Surinamese, Afro-Caribbean, Maroon, and indigenous communities, and fostering connections within the Kingdom and with Suriname, as desired by Suriname.
The committee will also work on raising societal awareness about the slavery past, exploring different perspectives on this history, and promoting research into the slavery past. Community members have expressed a desire to shape the commemoration based on their history, community, and culture. The Memorial Committee will further investigate and develop this in collaboration with descendants and other stakeholders.
Other members of the committee will be appointed in the fall of 2024. The islands and the NiNsee (National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy) have each been asked to nominate a member. The formation of this committee involved close collaboration with descendants and other stakeholders.
In Catshuis meetings, descendants and other stakeholders from across the Kingdom and Suriname, including the NiNsee, were consulted on how to structure a memorial committee and what profiles the members and chair should have. Individual conversations with descendants and experts from the Kingdom and Suriname were also conducted. Additionally, dialogue sessions were organized in European Netherlands in collaboration with the research bureau TrueTalk.
Role of NiNsee
The NiNsee has long been dedicated to the recognition of the slavery past and plays a crucial role in the annual commemoration on July 1 in Oosterpark. Their expertise, experience, and network are vital for the new memorial committee.
NiNsee will organize the national commemoration on July 1 in European Netherlands under the responsibility of the memorial committee in 2025, 2026, and 2027. Furthermore, NiNsee will nominate a candidate for one of the positions on the Slavery Memorial Committee. The committee will consult with NiNsee and the involved communities on the organization of the commemoration after 2027.