Slavernij monument

The Slavernij monument, created by artist Alex da Silva, honors Rotterdam’s past of slavery.

It is situated on Lloydkade, the place from where commercial ships sailed to Africa between the 17th and 18th centuries.

From this spot, goods such as liquors, weapons, and ceramics were transported to Africa. There, the goods were traded for slaves who were later taken to the Dutch Antilles and Suriname by ships from Rotterdam. The money earned from the slave trade was then used to bring back coffee, tobacco, and sugar to Rotterdam.

Representatives from the Surinamese, Antillean, and Cape Verdean communities in the city unanimously selected Alex da Silva’s design for Rotterdam’s monument. The monument aims to keep the memory of the degrading slave trade alive.

Rotterdam thoroughly researched the city’s history of slavery. A study revealed that Rotterdam’s business people were extensively involved in slavery and colonialism for many centuries.

The slavery monument portrays a slave ship shaped like a musical key, with four silver figures dancing on it.

Discover other sculptures in Rotterdam