Rotterdam’s colonial past is connected to the global legacy of colonialism. Local, national and international histories come together and resonate in the city – in many ways.
The colonial history of Rotterdam is part of a bigger story about European colonialism and its devastating effects on people and the natural environment in other parts of the world. There are traces of this global history in the city today: in its streets, buildings, in documents and objects. It is also reflected in the city’s economy and prosperity, in social relations, in the experiences of its residents, in old and new traditions. The people of Rotterdam live among all of this, and they pass on histories, some deliberately, others entirely unaware of the fact.
