Launch of public tours along Dutch slavery heritage in New York State

11 August 2016 by Sjoerd Jaarsma

Rob_de_Vos_tcm261-779572 — Rob de Vos, the Netherlands consul in New York City, speaking on the occasion of the launch of the Black Heritage Tour in New York State, in the capital, Albany, 5 August 2016.

Until recently, Dutch slavery heritage in New York remained underresearched. That is now changing due to a coordinated research project and the launching of public history and heritage tours on location.

The mayor of Albany, capital of New York state, ms. Kathy M. Sheenan, announced the decision of Albany City Council to name the first day of this launch, 5 August 2016, “Native American – African – Dutch Heritage Day”. During this first Black Heritage tour in New York State, directed by American-Dutch initiator Jennifer Tosch, participants are introduced to slavery heritage connected tot he Netherlands in an intensive tour visiting various historical locations in the state New York.

Sprekers_bijeenkomst__5_augustus_2016_tcm261-779573 — Among the speakers at the launch event on 5 August 2016 were the consul of the Netherlands in New York, Rob de Vos (first left), the director of I Love New York Markly Wilson (third left), singer Denise Jannah (fourth left), congressman Paul Tonko and Jennifer Tosch (middle), professor Gloria Wekker (first right), and staff and researchers of various organizations in New York.

These activities are part of the VU research project “Mapping Slavery”, represented by Jennifer Tosch and Nancy Jouwe. This project is supported by Dutch Culture in the Netherlands and the US, the Netherlands America Foundation, and has a fast growing list of partnerships, including the New Amsterdam History center, New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the New York State Division of Tourism of I Love NY. The meeting is part of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam research project “Mapping Slavery” (Faculty of Humanities, CLUE+).

(original text)