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Historical background
The province of Zeeland, with Walcheren as one of its islands, is intimately tied to the history of slavery and slave trade. Important chambers of both the WIC and the VOC were located in Middelburg, supported by harbours in Vlissingen, Rammekens and Veere. It is estimated that ships leaving from Zeeland transported around 270.000 Africans to the Americas. We do not have a similar estimation of Zeeland’s influence on slave trade along the Indian Ocean route. People from Zeeland owned plantations in Suriname, Guyana and Bernice.
In addition to the WIC and VOC, Zeeland had an additional slavetrading company: the Middelburgsche Commercie Compagnie (MCC). Together, these businesses provided great economic prosperity to the area from around the 17th up until the 19th century. They provided a lot of jobs in the harbours, their warehouses and headquarters. The Zeeuwse Archief holds the important archives of the MCC, a unique collection.
Traces
Even though the Second World War, several fires and city planning changed the layout and architecture of the cities on Walcheren, warehouses and an occasional office of the MCC, WIC and VOC can still be found scattered throughout Middelburg. In addition, rich slave traders, plantation owners or investors owned the most beautiful houses throughout area. Middelburg also has its own slavery monument, initiated by descendant communities in Zeeland.Curious about slavery heritage in other regions? Take a look at the overview of our maps.[:id]
Historical background
The province of Zeeland, with Walcheren as one of its islands, is intimately tied to the history of slavery and slave trade. Important chambers of both the WIC and the VOC were located in Middelburg, supported by harbours in Vlissingen, Rammekens and Veere. It is estimated that ships leaving from Zeeland transported around 270.000 Africans to the Americas. We do not have a similar estimation of Zeeland’s influence on slave trade along the Indian Ocean route. People from Zeeland owned plantations in Suriname, Guyana and Bernice.
In addition to the WIC and VOC, Zeeland had an additional slavetrading company: the Middelburgsche Commercie Compagnie (MCC). Together, these businesses provided great economic prosperity to the area from around the 17th up until the 19th century. They provided a lot of jobs in the harbours, their warehouses and headquarters. The Zeeuwse Archief holds the important archives of the MCC, a unique collection.
Traces
Even though the Second World War, several fires and city planning changed the layout and architecture of the cities on Walcheren, warehouses and an occasional office of the MCC, WIC and VOC can still be found scattered throughout Middelburg. In addition, rich slave traders, plantation owners or investors owned the most beautiful houses throughout area. Middelburg also has its own slavery monument, initiated by descendant communities in Zeeland.Curious about slavery heritage in other regions? Take a look at the overview of our maps.[:nl]
Historische Achtergrond
De geschiedenis van Zeeland is uitgebreid verbonden met slavenhandel en slavernij. Zowel de WIC als de VOC hadden belangrijke kamers gevestigd in Middelburg, met daarnaast ook havens in Vlissingen, Rammekens en Veere. Naar schatting zijn 270.000 Afrikanen verscheept naar de West door boten die vertrokken zijn vanuit Zeeland. Een schatting over de invloed van Zeeuwse schepen op slavenhandel in de Oost is op dit moment niet bekend. Zeeuwen hadden plantages in Suriname, Guyana en Bernice waarop tot slaaf gemaakten werkten.
Naast de invloed van de WIC en VOC, kende Zeeland een eigen bedrijf: de Middelburgsche Commercie Compagnie (MCC). Deze handelsondernemingen zorgden voor een flinke economische groei van het gebied rond de zeventiende, achtiende en negentiende eeuw. De bedrijven brachten veel werkgelegenheid met zich mee, op de scheepswerf en in de havens, maar ook in de pakhuizen en kantoren. Het Zeeuws Archief bewaard op dit moment het goed bewaarde archief van de MCC, een unieke collectie.
Sporen
De drie grote handelsorganisaties hebben hun sporen achtergelaten. Er staan bijvoorbeeld nog een groot aantal pakhuizen verspreid door de binnenstad van Middelburg. Herindeling van de steden, brand en de Tweede Wereldoorlog hebben er voor gezorgd dat niet alle gebouwen meer overeind staan. Net zoals in andere steden in Nederland bezaten rijke slavenhandelaren, -houders, of investeerders de mooiste panden in Zeeland. Middelburg heeft ook een eigen slavernijmonument op de Balans, geinitieerd door nazaten in Zeeland.Benieuwd naar slavernij erfgoed in andere regio’s? Bekijk het overzicht van onze kaarten.[:]