Together with the Indisch Herinneringscentrum, the Moluccan Historical Museum opens the semi-permanent exhibition ‘ONS LAND – Dekolonisatie, generaties, verhalen’* *at Museum Sophiahof on 8 February 2022.
*Ons Land – Decolonisation, generations, stories *
The semi-permanent exhibition ‘ONS LAND – Dekolonisatie, generaties, verhalen’* *can be seen at Museum Sophiahof from 8 February 2022. The exhibition is about Dutch colonial history and the effects of the still ongoing process of decolonisation on our society. This complex and often painful history is presented through eight intergenerational family stories. The exhibition is the second joint project of the Indisch Herinneringscentrum and the Moluccan Historical Museum, both of which are based at Museum Sophiahof.
Stories of eight families
The stories of eight families, told by younger generations, are central to Ons Land. They tell about their parents and grandparents, the journey from the Dutch East Indies to the Netherlands and the family history in the Dutch East Indies before the war. How do younger generations interpret and rediscover the stories of their parents and ancestors? These unique stories are complemented by previously unseen objects, photographs and intimate interviews recorded at the homes of eyewitnesses and their descendants.
The title Ons Land (Our Land) refers both to the present-day Netherlands and to the country of origin that would continue to play an important role in many ways: in culture, memory, identities and communities. Ons Land is not neutral. The story is not complete and is not finished. The exhibition does not claim to present the definitive story of decolonisation, but to illuminate it from different perspectives and through the eyes of the storytellers. As a snapshot in an ongoing process of coming to terms, in which new elements too demand attention. Above all, Ons Land aims to prompt conversation and reflection on our colonial past, on how it continues to work through and on how people deal with it.
Exhibition Revolusi
The opening of Ons Land is the first occasion in a series of events around the theme of decolonisation in 2022. On 11 February the Rijksmuseum opens the temporary exhibition Revolusi! Indonesia independent, which zooms in on the war of independence from 1945 to 1949. Through objects with personal stories, Revolusi! gives that period a face. In connection with both exhibitions, Museum Sophiahof and the Rijksmuseum are jointly organising educational programmes and events.
Tickets Ons Land
Would you like to plan your visit already? Because of the covid measures, reserving a time slot for* Ons Land* is compulsory. You can reserve here. If you visit after 8 February, make sure you have a valid corona entry pass; wearing a face mask is compulsory.
*Ons Land *is made by the Moluccan Historical Museum and the Indisch Herinneringscentrum in collaboration with Kossmanndejong and TiMe Amsterdam.
THE MHM COLLECTION
The MHM collection, previously housed in the museum in Utrecht, has been in storage since 2013. The collection cannot yet be seen in The Hague. Our curators are working hard on unpacking the entire MHM collection and examining its condition. They want to make part of the collection accessible to the public again as soon as possible. Also read the column ‘A museum without a museum’ by director Henry Timisela.
