Slavery and Amsterdam: Art, Trade, and Enslaved Lives
Slavery and Amsterdam
Slavery in Asia, Africa or the Americas was long common and difficult to eliminate. The first Rembrandts were sold to buyers in the 1630s. Enslaved persons might be born into slavery or sold abroad by their own authorities. According to researchers at the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Museum, the city of Amsterdam shared in the benefits of the slave trade. One of Rembrandt’s sitters, for example, was an enslaved man. After his arrival he was still not free, and he was also able to sue for that freedom.
Slavery in Asia, Africa or the Americas was long common and difficult to eliminate. The first Rembrandts were sold to buyers in the 1630s. Enslaved persons might be born into slavery or sold abroad by their own authorities. According to researchers at the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Museum, the city of Amsterdam shared in the benefits of the slave trade. One of Rembrandt’s sitters, for example, was an enslaved man. After his arrival he was still not free, and he was also able to sue for that freedom.
Amsterdam’s Colonial Trade, Sugar Wealth, and Enslaved Labor
Amsterdam, Colonial Trade, and Slavery
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) often obtained spices through violence and slavery. Cloves from Ambon and nutmeg from the Banda Islands—conquered by the VOC in 1605 and 1621—were harvested on plantations by enslaved workers and local people forced into labor. Across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, slavery was widespread and slow to disappear. In Amsterdam, authorities and merchants shared in the profits of this system, and enslaved individuals brought to the city might seek—yet not automatically obtain—their freedom through the courts.
Marten and Oopjen’s fortune was tied directly to enslaved labor: Marten’s father, and later the couple themselves, grew rich refining raw sugar from Brazil, cultivated, harvested, and processed by enslaved Africans. The booming European demand for sugar was largely met by Amsterdam’s sugar industry, whose scale depended on mass slavery. Maerten Daey, Oopjen’s later husband, had earlier held an enslaved woman, Francisca, captive in Brazil, repeatedly raped her, and rejected both her and their daughter when she became pregnant—an individual story that reveals the brutality underpinning colonial wealth.
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) often obtained spices through violence and slavery. Cloves from Ambon and nutmeg from the Banda Islands—conquered by the VOC in 1605 and 1621—were harvested on plantations by enslaved workers and local people forced into labor. Across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, slavery was widespread and slow to disappear. In Amsterdam, authorities and merchants shared in the profits of this system, and enslaved individuals brought to the city might seek—yet not automatically obtain—their freedom through the courts.
Marten and Oopjen’s fortune was tied directly to enslaved labor: Marten’s father, and later the couple themselves, grew rich refining raw sugar from Brazil, cultivated, harvested, and processed by enslaved Africans. The booming European demand for sugar was largely met by Amsterdam’s sugar industry, whose scale depended on mass slavery. Maerten Daey, Oopjen’s later husband, had earlier held an enslaved woman, Francisca, captive in Brazil, repeatedly raped her, and rejected both her and their daughter when she became pregnant—an individual story that reveals the brutality underpinning colonial wealth.
Still Life with Cheese
The Threatened Swan Defending Its Nest
Marten and Oopjen: Wealth Built on Enslaved Labor
Marten & Slavery
Marten and Oopjen owed their wealth to slave labour. In Amsterdam Marten’s father, and later the couple themselves, made a fortune from the refining of raw sugar from Brazil. It had been cultivated, harvested and processed there by Africans who had been enslaved. Sugar had become very popular in Europe in a short period of time, and a great deal of money was made from it. The demand in Europe was met in large part by the Amsterdam sugar industry. This enormous production would not have been possible without the large-scale deployment of people in slavery.
Marten and Oopjen owed their wealth to slave labour. In Amsterdam Marten’s father, and later the couple themselves, made a fortune from the refining of raw sugar from Brazil. It had been cultivated, harvested and processed there by Africans who had been enslaved. Sugar had become very popular in Europe in a short period of time, and a great deal of money was made from it. The demand in Europe was met in large part by the Amsterdam sugar industry. This enormous production would not have been possible without the large-scale deployment of people in slavery.
Spices, Violence, and Slavery in Dutch Colonial Trade
Spices & Slavery
The spices in these pies were often obtained by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) through violence and slavery. Cloves came from Ambon, one of the Moluccan islands, which was conquered by the VOC in 1605. The Ambonese had to harvest cloves alongside workers enslaved by the VOC. Nutmeg came from the Banda Islands (south of Ambon), which were taken by force in 1621. Enslaved people had to pick the nutmeg seeds on plantations and strip off their covering (aril).
The spices in these pies were often obtained by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) through violence and slavery. Cloves came from Ambon, one of the Moluccan islands, which was conquered by the VOC in 1605. The Ambonese had to harvest cloves alongside workers enslaved by the VOC. Nutmeg came from the Banda Islands (south of Ambon), which were taken by force in 1621. Enslaved people had to pick the nutmeg seeds on plantations and strip off their covering (aril).
Oopjen, Maerten Daey, and the Violence of Slavery
Oopjen & Slavery
After the death of her husband Marten Soolmans, Oopjen married Maerten Daey. Before their marriage Daey had spent a few years in Brazil. The tragic story of the enslaved Francisca has come down to us from contemporary sources. Daey had taken her captive, locked her up, and raped her multiple times. When it turned out that Francisca was pregnant, he sent her away and refused to recognise their daughter Elunam.
After the death of her husband Marten Soolmans, Oopjen married Maerten Daey. Before their marriage Daey had spent a few years in Brazil. The tragic story of the enslaved Francisca has come down to us from contemporary sources. Daey had taken her captive, locked her up, and raped her multiple times. When it turned out that Francisca was pregnant, he sent her away and refused to recognise their daughter Elunam.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is the Netherlands’ national museum of art and history, housed in an iconic building in central Amsterdam. Its vast collection spans centuries, from Dutch Golden Age masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer to decorative arts, sculpture, photography and everyday objects. Atmospheric galleries trace the country’s artistic brilliance alongside its maritime power, global trade networks and colonial expansion across different continents.
Beyond its celebrated paintings, the museum increasingly highlights the human stories behind wealth and luxury, including the role of slavery in the trade in sugar, spices and other commodities. Carefully researched displays show how fortunes were built on violence and exploitation in Asia, Africa and the Americas, giving voice to people who were enslaved and marginalized. This thoughtful approach encourages visitors to question familiar images and see Dutch art within a broader, more honest historical context.
Beyond its celebrated paintings, the museum increasingly highlights the human stories behind wealth and luxury, including the role of slavery in the trade in sugar, spices and other commodities. Carefully researched displays show how fortunes were built on violence and exploitation in Asia, Africa and the Americas, giving voice to people who were enslaved and marginalized. This thoughtful approach encourages visitors to question familiar images and see Dutch art within a broader, more honest historical context.
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