ABSTRACT
In recent years, there has been increasing attention among Dutch museums and heritage institutions to address the (Dutch) history of slavery and colonialism, and its legacy. In this essay, we argue that the developments in the cultural and heritage sector cannot be understood without considering the ‘new wave of anti-racism’ which was catalyzed by the movement against the national Saint Nicolas and its racist caricature black pete which led to larger political and societal discussions around antiblack- and institutional racism, and collective memory in the Netherlands. Grassroots activism played a crucial role in the recent changes among museums and wider debates on anti-racism.
