1st July – Emancipation Day in the Dutch Caribbean 🇳🇱
On 1st July we honour Emancipation Day across several Dutch Caribbean islands — including Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. On this day in 1863, slavery was officially abolished in the former Dutch colonies, freeing more than 30,000 enslaved people in Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean.
While 1st July marks the legal end of slavery, the reality was more complex — formerly enslaved people in Suriname were required to work for ten more years under state supervision, a painful reminder that freedom was neither immediate nor complete. Still, 1st July represents a powerful moment in history and the start of a long, ongoing journey toward justice, remembrance, and healing.
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Across the islands today, people gather to commemorate the resilience of ancestors, celebrate cultural heritage, and reflect on the legacy of slavery that still echoes in society. Ceremonies, traditional music, poetry, storytelling, and vibrant dress pay tribute to those who fought for freedom.
This is not just a day of looking back — it’s a time to honour the spirit of liberation and to commit ourselves to building a future rooted in dignity, equity, and truth.
✨ Tula. One-Tété Lohkay. Pedro Luis Brion. Clara. Cojo & Bakkie.
These are names we remember. Lives we honor.
Today we honour the ancestors who resisted, fought, and survived.
🗣️ Remember their names:
✊🏾 Tula – led Curaçao’s 1795 slave revolt
✊🏾 One-Tété Lohkay – fearless fugitive from Sint Maarten
✊🏾 Pedro Luis Brion – Curaçao-born freedom fighter in Bolívar’s army
✊🏾 Clara – bold voice for justice in Aruba
✊🏾 Cojo & Bakkie – Surinamese warriors who defied slavery
Their resistance lives on in us.
Their stories are our legacy.
Their courage is freedom.
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