De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) supports projects to build awareness about the legacy of slavery. DNB recently made a one-off contribution to a project on Sint Eustatius.
© DNB
The Statia Foundation 2026 project on Sint Eustatius is to receive an amount of €355,000. This contribution will be used to create a permanent exhibition at Museum Fort Oranje on Sint Eustatius’s legacy of slavery and the island’s role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people. In addition, educational activities will be developed to promote knowledge, awareness and dialogue about this legacy.
Museum Fort Oranje is situated in a location that is closely linked to the history of Sint Eustatius. The fort overlooks the historic lower town, which developed into a major trading centre in the Caribbean during the 18th century. It is precisely at this location that the story of the island’s historical links to slavery and its significance for Sint Eustatius will be given a visible and lasting place. The museum brings together historical sources, local stories and educational activities for residents, schoolchildren and visitors to the island.
On 1 July 2022, Klaas Knot, then President of De Nederlandsche Bank, apologised for DNB’s role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people. To reinforce these apologies, DNB has allocated €5 million for one-off contributions to projects aimed at education, promotion of awareness and the preservation of historical heritage.
DNB previously made one-off contributions to projects in Aruba, Curaçao, Saba, Suriname and the Netherlands. Thanks to the contribution to Sint Eustatius, awareness-raising initiatives on this island are now also being supported.
See also: Contributions to educational and historical projects on legacy of slavery
In addition to these one-off contributions, DNB set up the DNB Fund in cooperation with the Culture Fund. This fund supports local initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of the historical legacy of slavery on the lives of descendants of enslaved people.
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