On October 28, we learned from alderman Karremans that a motion by D66 will be implemented to place an explanation at the streets named after historic figures who were responsible for colonization, cruel exploitation, murder and serious human rights violations. The alderman has come up with a solution that not only raised eyebrows, but which causes complete bewilderment.
The alderman has indicated that he is willing to make explanations available for street names. Not just with the street names that really have no right exist, but with every single one. Why is there no distinction made between people who are honoured for their past deeds and people who are despised for them?
Rotterdam BIJ1 is shocked by this plan to say the least. As a city, Rotterdam has played a major role in the history of colonization, exploitation and slavery. A recent study of this history clearly mapped this out. To this day, this history can be seen and traced within the buildings in the city and the way in which these so-called “heroes” are still honoured with statues, street names and festivals.
For Rotterdam BIJ1, there is only one possible solution: this history of colonization, exploitation and slavery should never be forgotten. This must be given a place in the history books, within our education-systems and in museums. Honouring or worshipping these “heroes” has no place in this outlook. As far as we are concerned, all the worship of these criminals through images, street names and festivals should have no place in the streets of Rotterdam.
An explanation of all nameplates in Rotterdam, in a way that is inaccessible to many Rotterdammers (in form af a QR-code), does not in any way do justice to the research carried out and the enormously underexposed colonial history of our city.
Rotterdam BIJ1 wants to put the following questions forward to the alderman:
- Has the alderman read the research into the role of the city of Rotterdam in the Dutch colonial past?
- What is the most important aspect of that research that the alderman takes into account in his daily work?
- Does the alderman agree with us that naming a street after someone is a form of honouring a person?
- What is the alderman view on honoring people who have been guilty of colonization, exploitation, murder and slavery?
- Is the alderman aware of the fact that descendants of this exploitation and slavery in Rotterdam are confronted with the indescribable suffering inflicted on their ancestors through this worship on a daily basis?
- Why does the alderman choose not to remove these street names from the city?
- Why does the alderman choose not to mention the explanation of the name under the sign?
- Can the alderman explain whether and, if so, which relevant people, groups and organizations have been consulted to achieve this implementation?
- Is the alderman aware of the fact that many citizens of Rotterdam are not familiar with the system of retrieving information via a QR-scan?
- Can the alderman indicate why this system was chosen within the implementation proposed by him, which excludes such a large group of people living in Rotterdam?
- Can the alderman explain why he does not want to make a distinction between people who have committed heinous crimes and people who have made a positive contribution to history?
- Can the alderman indicate how and when he will start to do justice to the results of the investigation, and to repair the colonial suffering in which Rotterdam played an important role?
- Is the alderman prepared to go ahead and look at the situation surrounding the worship of colonial looters and murderers within the Rotterdam streetscape when it comes to statues and festivals, for example?
- When will the municipality of Rotterdam apologize for this role in the history of colonization, exploitation and slavery?