AMSTERDAM — One of the most far-reaching chapters in the shared history of Suriname and the Netherlands will finally get a prominent stage in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in October. It opens on Thursday Cultural Educational Center the special traveling photo exhibition ’50 years of Suriname’s independence’ officially opens its doors. The exhibition has already been on display in various places over the past year, after its official premiere in The Hague on November 19, 2025.
The exhibition brings to life the personal histories of Surinamese people who built a new future in the Netherlands around the historic turning point year of 1975. Major themes are made tangible through intimate portraits and historical moments. Visitors are taken along the shared history of slavery, indentured labor, political shifts and the ultimate search for a new life after independence.
“It’s about stories of farewells and new beginnings. About hope, resilience and perseverance.”
25 Surinamese Dutch
Photographer Asha Gaalman portrayed fifty people for this project. The exhibition is made up of two balanced groups that together tell the story of integration and encounter. On the one hand, the exhibition shows 25 Surinamese Dutch people from various communities, including Afro-Surinamese, Hindustanis, Javanese, Chinese, Maroons and indigenous peoples.
On the other hand, 25 Dutch stakeholders have their say. These are employers, teachers, lawyers, civil servants, MPs and church volunteers who played an active role in the reception and guidance of migrants from the 1970s onwards. The accompanying text fragments were written by Shawintala Banwari, Louise Dijkmans and Sahin Yildirim.
Initiator Yildirim emphasizes that the exhibition is about much more than just migration figures. “It is about stories of farewell and new beginnings. About hope, resilience and perseverance. About meeting, cooperation and connection,” Yildirim explains.
According to him, these histories show how migration not only profoundly changes individual lives, but also shapes cities, communities and collective history. “Fifty years of Suriname’s independence is therefore not only a moment to look back, but also to reflect on what connects us today.”
Indispensable contribution
The exhibition sheds light on how the past still has an impact on the present and offers a platform for culture, music and religion as connecting factors. Yildirim sees the exhibition as a well-deserved tribute to the Surinamese community: “We show how Surinamese people have made an indispensable contribution to Dutch society. At the same time, it is an invitation to get to know each other better, understand each other’s stories and build together a future in which solidarity is central.”
The organization invites the public to experience this reflective exhibition in Amsterdam together and to seek dialogue. The doors of the Cultural Educational Center in Amsterdam-Zuidoost are open throughout the month of October to anyone who wants to be inspired by this powerful Surinamese legacy.
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema will perform the opening. The exhibition promises to be a deep dive into stories of hope, resilience and the indispensable Surinamese contribution to Dutch society. After Amsterdam, the exhibition will travel to other parts of the country, although the schedule has not yet been announced.
