de waarheidscommissie nederland
the truth commission netherlands
2023 - 2024
With the first ever Truth Commission in the Netherlands, Chokri Ben Chikha / Action Zoo Humain call attention to the underexposed, colonial legacy of the human zoo.
Until deep into the 20th century, the Netherlands too exhibited thousands of men, women and children as "exotic," "wild" and "primitive" in so-called 'human zoos'. Think, for example, of the Surinamese and Indonesians exhibited at the World Exhibition in Amsterdam (1883), the Indian Exhibition in Arnhem (1928) and the Senegalese village at the Nenijto in Rotterdam (1928).
Does the human zoo still influence social thinking today? Aren't the ethnic profiling by the police, the benefits scandal at the IRS, as well as the "innocent" sharing of footage on social media of that "exotic" travel, examples of this?
Prime Minister Mark Rutte and King Willem-Alexander recently apologized for the Netherlands' slavery past. The Truth Commission picks up on that and gets to work on what might follow after the famous comma. Put yourself in the problematic curiosity of the visitors, the experiences of the peoples on display and the colonial propaganda machine of the organizers.
Based on South Africa's "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" witnesses speak out in word, visuals and movement. Former politician Kathleen Ferrier and Mpho Tutu van Furth, daughter of the late South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, lead the hearing as chairpersons.
Dutch Theatre Festival 2024
“The Truth Commission Netherlands was selected by the jury of the Dutch Theatre Festival 2024: "Following the example of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, witnesses speak out in words, imagery and movement at striking locations of the white establishment in cities where human zoos once stood. The audience is challenged to no longer watch from the comfort of their seats, but to think and act."
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Premiere
4.10 - Arminius Church, Rotterdam (NL)5.10 > 7.10 - Arminius Church, Rotterdam (NL)
26.10 > 29.10 - House of Province, Arnhem (NL)
1.11 > 4.11 - Walloon church, Amsterdam (NL) -
4.04 - The Dutch Senate, The Hague (NL)
5.04 - International Press Centre Nieuwpoort, The Hague (NL)Dutch Theatre Festival 2024
14.09 - the Walloon church, Amsterdam (NL)
15.09 - the Walloon church, Amsterdam (NL)
Artistic Research Report
The Artistic Research Report of De Waarheidscommissie Nederland explains how the project came about, makes recommendations, and calls on Dutch politicians to actively engage with it.
De WHC NL | Arminius Church © kvde.be
De WHC NL | Arminius Church © kvde.be
De WHC NL | Arminius Church © kvde.be
De WHC NL | Arminius Church © kvde.be
De WHC NL | House of Province, Arnhem © kvde.be
De WHC NL | House of Province, Arnhem © kvde.be
De WHC NL | Walloon Church, Amsterdam © kvde.be
De WHC NL | Walloon Church, Amsterdam © kvde.be
De WHC NL | Walloon Church, Amsterdam © kvde.be
De WHC NL | Walloon Church, Amsterdam © kvde.be
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Concept/director Chokri Ben Chikha
With and by Kathleen Ferrier, Mpho Tutu van Furth, Bert Sliggers, Chantal Loïal, Iris Tjoa, Mareille Labohm, Fouad Mourigh, Moussa Ndiaye, Izah Hankammer, Tamar Niamut, Anis de Jong, Mavis Carrilho, Nienke Nasserian, Wensley Piqué, David PrinsProject manager/dramaturgy Sietske de Vries
Production manager Lique van Gerven
Text Erik-Ward Geerlings, Sharona Maguette Diop
Music Seppe SaloméPhotography Kurt Van Der Elst
Video Sven Peetoom, Korrel
Website/socials Robin Laurens, Kirsten Lipman, Oya Latifa
Press Ronald de GrootProduction Action Zoo Humain
Coproduction Perpodium,DEGASTEN, Theater Rotterdam, deBuren, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Musis & Stadstheater Arnhem, de Brakke GrondSupported by Bijlmer Parktheater, IMPACT, Theater Zuidplein, NTGent, Vlaamse Overheid, Provinciehuis Arnhem, Waalse Kerk, Debatcentrum Arminius, Fonds 21, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Fonds Podiumkunsten, Vriendenloterijfonds, Fonds ZOZ
This performance was made possible with the support of the Belgian Federal Government's Taxshelter through uFund.
