Wandeling door het slavernijverleden in Groningen

This city walk reveals the hidden traces of the West India Company and the people connected to it. It offers a powerful new perspective on the city’s past — one that is rarely told.

Discover what remains today of the time when Groningen was tied to the transatlantic slave trade. What traces can still be found in the city’s streets? Which buildings, façades, and names reflect a period in which Groningen was closely linked to colonial trade and slavery? And who were the people involved — the wealthy families who built their fortunes through the WIC, and the enslaved individuals who paid the true price?

For a long time, the legacy of slavery was seen as a story belonging to the western cities of the Netherlands. But recent research has revealed that Groningen, too, played a significant role. Behind the grand façades and in dusty archives, stories emerged — of investors and officials, of financial gain and moral cost.

This walk casts new light on a long-overlooked chapter of Groningen’s history. For many, it’s a confronting but meaningful experience — one that invites reflection on the past and its lasting impact on the present. 

Pay Attention: this walk will take place in both Dutch and English. The language and dates will be as followed: 19th of august Dutch, 20th of august English, 21st of august Dutch, 22nd of august English.