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ONS LAND – Decolonisation, generations, stories
The semi-permanent exhibition ONS LAND – Decolonisation, generations, stories shows Dutch colonial history in the East Indies and how it still works through the present. Eyewitnesses to that history and their descendants tell their story.
Around two million people currently living in the Netherlands have a particular bond with the former Dutch East Indies. They or their forebears came to the Netherlands after the proclamation of the Republik Indonesia. It was the largest wave of migration ever. Some of them thought their stay here would be temporary.
The exhibition Ons Land is about Dutch colonial history in the East Indies and how it still works through the present. The voices of eight families form the heart of the exhibition. These personal, diverse but for many recognisable stories give a picture of the complex postcolonial history and of how differently it was and is experienced. The unique stories are complemented by objects, photographs and intimate interviews not shown before.
Ons Land is not neutral; the story is not complete and not finished. It is a snapshot in an ongoing process of becoming aware.
The semi-permanent exhibition Ons Land is made by the Indisch Herinneringscentrum and Museum Maluku together with Kossmanndejong and TiMe Amsterdam.
A bamboo flute in ONS LAND
Curator Huib Akihary tells you more about the semi-permanent exhibition.
