Museum Maluku and the Landelijk Moluks Monument foundation are asking some 100 mayors to make a financial contribution to a national Moluccan monument at the Lloydkade in Rotterdam. The request from LMM and MHM is a response to the Mayors' Moluccan Letter of 8 April 2021, in which the new government is asked to acknowledge the cold reception and undignified accommodation in the Netherlands of 70 years ago.
Municipal support
The first donations have now been pledged: besides the municipalities of Vijfheerenlanden and Krimpen aan den IJssel, the mayors of 's-Hertogenbosch, the municipality of Steenbergen and the municipality of Steenwijkerland have said they wholeheartedly support this initiative and are donating 500 euros.
Mayor Jack Mikkers and alderman Mike van der Geld (Culture) of 's-Hertogenbosch explain that they consider it important to pay attention to local and national Moluccan history in the Netherlands. Mayor Ruud van der Belt of the municipality of Steenbergen argues that a national Moluccan monument can contribute to greater connection, mutual respect and everything else a peaceful society needs."
MuMa and the LMM foundation are glad of these first positive responses. "This enormously strengthens our drive to realise the monument," says Andrew Roos of the LMM foundation. "We assume more municipalities will follow."
Monument at the Lloydkade in Rotterdam
At the place where the first transport ship arrived, at the Lloydkade in Rotterdam, there is to this day nothing to show that a historic event took place there.
The national monument will be a tribute to this 1st generation of Moluccans and their families and an acknowledgement of the shared past. A monument also makes it possible to pass on the story of the arrival of Moluccans in 1951 to present and future generations.
Crowdfunding
Besides applying for funds and subsidies, the LMM foundation has set up a crowdfunding campaign. The proceeds of crowdfunding and donations currently amount to €22,500. More information about this can be found at www.landelijkmoluksmonument.nl
