Presentations Global Slavery History Fellows
A coalition of Amsterdam based Archives, Museums and Historical institutes has taken the initiative for fellowships for curators, archivists and historians in the field of slavery history. The third group of fellows of the Global Slavery History Fellowships – Kushanava Choudhury and Tri Ramadhan- will present the results of their research on 20 November at the IISH.
Kushanava Choudhury
In Search of the Van Bengalens
This presentation tells the story of the Van Bengalens, or enslaved from Bengal who were transported all over the world during the period of European colonialism and capitalism. Little is known about Bengali slaves, who were trafficked not only across Asia but to Africa, Europe and North America from the 1500s to the 1800s. Yet, they left their traces in paintings, textiles and other objects, often hidden in plain sight. The enslaved from Bengal tell a global story, of the rise of capital through enslaved labor and the ideology of racial difference. This presentation is part of a larger book project.
Tri Ramadhan
The Red Shop and Slavery in Batavia
This article explored Toko Merah building in Batavia (now Jakarta) as an emblem of colonial authority and a stoic observer of slavery during the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) period. Constructed in 1730 by Gustaaf Willem Baron van Imhoff, this building became the residence of Governor-General Reynier de Klerk and his wife, Sophia Francina Westpalm. Taking a critical-historical approach, this study employed archival research, a literature review, and expert interviews. This article shows the deep degree to which slavery permeated the social and economic life of the colonial elite. Reynier and Sophia's estate, with hunderd enslaved people, illustrates the commodification of human existence and the systemic inequity of Batavia in the 18th century. Toko Merah thus stands as an architectural monument and a testimony to the moral inequity of the society from which it derives. Recently, as a preserved cultural heritage site, it helps the public understand Jakarta's colonial history and the society's enduring legacy of wealth, power, and human exploitation.
Practical
Date 20 November 2025
Time 15:30 followed by drinks
Place IISG, Cruquiusweg 31, Amsterdam
Entrance Free entrance, but please register at event@iisg.nl (zoom link upon request)
