’Threads of Our Dutch Slavery Past’

Threads of our Dutch Slavery Past

Van Lanschot Kempen, in collaboration with Brabant C - the investment fund for culture with societal impact - is a partner of the North Brabant edition of ’Threads of our Dutch Slavery Past’ (’Draden van ons Nederlandse Slavernijverleden’). This initiative contributes in a connective way to the knowledge and awareness of the slavery past and its impact on our present time.

Tapestry

Together with the residents of the province, we are working in 2025 on a monumental tapestry measuring 35 x 2.5 metres, designed by the Eindhoven artist Victor Sonna, which incorporates stories about Brabant's colonial past. The result will be exhibited in the TextielMuseum in Tilburg in the summer of 2025, after which it will tour the province and conclude at the Het Noordbrabants Museum in ’s-Hertogenbosch.

About the project and Victor Sonna

A fragment of the tapestry. Read more about the sources of inspiration for the design.

Maarten Edixhoven, Chair of the Board of Van Lanschot Kempen

Increasing knowledge and awareness

This initiative plays an important role in increasing knowledge and awareness about the slavery past in North Brabant and its impact on our contemporary society. In this way, we connect heritage and art, and strive to promote a deeper awareness of the colonial past of the Netherlands, with a special focus on North Brabant. We hope that this project is not only educational but also a source of inspiration and reflection for future generations.

Collaboration

Brabant C

Brabant C is an entrepreneurial public-private culture fund. The fund supports impactful cultural projects with public-private resources, builds networks, and shares knowledge. To this end, it actively seeks collaborations to maintain and increase financial resources for the Brabant cultural sector.

About Brabant C

On 13 March 2025, the project was opened at Helmond Castle in the presence of (from left to right) initiator Ricardo Burgzorg, Esther Hartzema (director of Museum Helmond), artist Victor Sonna, Victoria Simonsz-van Krieken (director of Brabant C), and Joost Tijmstra (office director of Van Lanschot Kempen Eindhoven).

Photos: © Tahné Kleijn