The Hague has unveiled a slavery monument on the Lange Voorhout, marking a significant step in acknowledging the city’s historical role in the exploitation and oppression of enslaved people. Mayor Jan van Zanen emphasized the importance of recognizing slavery as a crime against humanity, particularly in a city that holds others accountable for such crimes.

The monument, designed by Buhlebezwe Siwani and Ronald Westerhuis, features metal silhouettes representing young residents of The Hague and descendants of enslaved people. These cut-out figures symbolize the lasting scars of slavery. Visitors can walk through the installation, experiencing a representation of the Middle Passage.

The initiative for the monument began in 2018 with a motion from municipal council member Mikal Tseggai, who highlighted the need for The Hague to take responsibility for its central role in decisions related to slavery. This is especially relevant given that approximately 20% of the city’s population is descended from victims of slavery or colonial oppression. The unveiling follows apologies issued by Mayor Van Zanen in 2022 for the city’s slavery past.

Research indicates that many regents from The Hague held shares in plantations and were involved in the slavery system. Historian Valika Smeulders led a tour of sites in The Hague that bear witness to this history, including the Koninklijke Schouwburg, where an abolitionist play was disrupted by VOC officials, and the Mauritshuis, built with wealth generated through slave labor.

The monument arrives after discussions regarding how to commemorate the colonial past. Initially, the city council considered a single monument for the entire colonial and slavery past, but concerns arose that this approach might relativize the unique cruelty of transatlantic slavery. The city council has hinted at the possibility of a separate monument commemorating the colonial past in the East in the future.