Shadows of the Atlantic Ocean

Without ships, no colonialism

In the 17th century, the Atlantic Ocean was the world's highway. Traders, fishermen, soldiers and colonists from Europe made the crossing by ship. Also from the Netherlands. But the hunt for profit had major consequences for people and nature in the Atlantic area. The exhibition Shadows on the Atlantic Ocean shows how the history of shipping and colonial violence are inextricably linked. And what impact this had - and still has - on our lives and societies.

Museum collection and human stories

In Shadows on the Atlantic Ocean you will find objects from the museum collection. Such as various paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, and a two-meter long model of the ship D'Keulse Galy. Ships like this were used to kidnap enslaved people from West Africa to the colonies in America.

This ship model shows exactly what such a ship looked like, but does not tell about the experiences of the people on board. That is why the museum collection includes videos with stories about historical people and interviews with experts. In this way, the objects in our collection get a different meaning. Or perhaps even more meaning.

Contemporary art as reflection

For Shadows on the Atlantic Ocean, Het Scheepvaartmuseum collaborates with various artists. Their artworks show how colonial history continues to have an impact today. The exhibition features photographs by Lisandro Suriel. With his images, he explores the shared African identity of the descendants of enslaved people. The artists Atong Atem, Manuwi C Tokai, Robin Hoed and Wouter Pocornie are creating new works especially for Shadows on the Atlantic Ocean .

Shadows on the Atlantic Ocean shows how the history of shipping is inextricably linked to colonial violence and the history of slavery. With this permanent exhibition, Het Scheepvaartmuseum anchors this connection in its permanent offering