WILLEMSTAD, AMSTERDAM - The Tula Museum has received a grant of nearly half a million euros to promote awareness of the slavery past. De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) has allocated 5 million euros to a special fund aimed at initiatives that contribute to improving the living conditions of descendants of enslaved people. In collaboration with the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund, DNB will evaluate applications for this fund over the next ten years. The first round of applications has already been reviewed and approved, including funding for the National Slavery Museum in Amsterdam, the Elisabeth Samson House in Suriname, and the Tula Museum in Curaçao.
Reopening and Renovation
Following a renovation, the Tula Museum is set to reopen in 2023. DNB is providing financial support for the museum's reopening at country house Knip. The museum is part of a larger project in an underprivileged neighborhood, where three museums together provide a comprehensive understanding of the history and developments of slavery. The local community is actively involved in the museum, and educational activities and extensive programs for schools and teachers are being developed.
Apologies
During last year's national commemoration of the abolition of slavery in Amsterdam, DNB President Klaas Knot issued an apology for the bank's role in the slavery past. DNB states that since the apology, they have engaged in extensive discussions with descendants, organizations, and researchers to determine how the central bank can contribute to raising awareness and mitigating the impact of the slavery past.