The Dutch Transatlantic Slave Trade

In this book, a new generation of scholars offers fresh perspectives on the history of the Dutch slave trade. Traditionally, Dutch research has focused on business practices, often overlooking the enslaved and the complexities of illegal trade and violence. By experimenting with innovative methodologies and underutilised primary sources, this volume reveals the potential to uncover perspectives of enslaved people aboard slave ships, to investigate unstudied areas like sexual violence, and to examine the roles of Dutch elite in the trade..

Ramona Negrón is a PhD candidate at Leiden University, Data Curator at the Amsterdam City Archives, and Editor of Holland Historisch Tijdschrift. She is co-author of of the book De grootste slavenhandelaren van Amsterdam. Over Jochem Matthijs en Coenraad Smitt, which was published in 2022. In the Fall of 2024, she will commence a postdoctoral position at the Royal Dutch Institute for Caribbean and Southeast Asia Studies (KITLV). Jessica den Oudsten is a PhD candidate at Radboud University, Guest Researcher at the Huygens Institute and Data Curator at the Amsterdam City Archives. Her research focuses on integration and social mobility of immigrants and their descendants in Amsterdam between 1660 and 1811. She specialises in early modern maritime history and migration history. She is co-author of the book De grootste slavenhandelaren van Amsterdam. Over Jochem Matthijs en Coenraad Smitt. Camilla de Koning is a PhD-student at the University of Manchester and Historic Royal Palaces. Her project 'Crown Engagement in Britain's Emerging Empire 1660-1775' analyses how the British Royal family, as individuals, was involved with the colonial empire. Asides from this she continues research on the Dutch Atlantic, focusing on kinship in/and slavery. Karwan Fatah-Black is Senior Researcher at the Royal Dutch Institute for Caribbean and Southeast Asia Studies (KITLV-KNAW) and University Lecturer at Leiden University. Since completing his PhD (2013), he has studied the history of the Atlantic world, enslavement, and emancipation strategies. In partnership with museums and heritage institutions, he is working on creating new narratives about the colonial past and postcolonial futures.

Introduction by Karwan Fatah-Black, Camilla de Koning, Ramona Negrón, and Jessica den Oudsten, Part I. West-Africa, Chapter 1. A Versatile Island: The Role of São Tomé in the Slave Trade during the Period of WIC Occupation, 1641-1649 by Florian Herrendorf, Chapter 2. Arming the Slave Trade: Evidence on the Gun-Slave Hypothesis from Dutch Slavers by Philipp Huber, Chapter 3. The Slave Trade on the Return Voyage by Ben van Yperen, Part II. The Slave Ship, Chapter 4. The Middle Passages of the Christina & Geertruyda (1783-1785) and Zeemercuur (1787-1789): a comparison by Camilla de Koning, Chapter 5. The Significance of Shipboard Insurrections during the Slave Ship Captaincies of Jan Menkenveld and his Former Officers: David Mulders, Daniel Pruijmelaar and Willem de Molder, 1754-1767 by Luc Meijboom, Chapter 6. Rice, Barley and Beans: Extensity and Severity of Malnutrition in the Dutch Slave Trade by Lucas Oosterwijk, Part III. Conflict Management and Discourse, Chapter 7. Guarding Security, Managing Risks: West African Bombas on Dutch Slave Ships by Matthias Lukkes, Chapter 8. Business as Usual: Persisting Narratives of Commodification, Racialisation and Humanisation in the Archive of the MCC by Michael Rowland, Chapter 9. Abolitionist Grandstanding: Resisting the Illegal Slave Trade in Nineteenth Century Suriname by Aviva Ben-Ur,Epilogue by Sowande' M. Mustakeem, List of Figures, List of Illustrations, List of Tables, Index.