Archive
1. How can I visit the collection of The Black Archives for (own) research, and/or to consult literature?
The Black Archives is still in the process of archiving and preservation the collection. This means that we are working on making The Black Archives publicly accessible. It is not open for research yet. You can consult our NUC (New Urban Collective) book collection on our location at Bijlmerplein 140, Amsterdam from Wednesdays-Saturdays at 11AM-5PM.
We regularly organize guided tours in the archive. If you want to know more about The Black Archives, its history and learn about exceptional artifacts in the archive sign up for a tour and send a message in regard to Claire Boogaard to [email protected]
2. Is there a literature list available if I want to know more about the history of slavery and colonialism and its legacy (institutional racism) and decolonization?
We recommend to start with the following books if you want to learn more about the Dutch context:
A good start to learn about the challenges such as social exclusion, discrimination, whiteness and racism are:
Support TBA
3. When will future events of The Black Archives take place?
We have a program which involved themes of The Black Archives. You can find it on the website under the item Agenda, but also follow us on our Instagram account and Facebook.
NOTE: Dutch events are not listed on the English Agenda page. Only events in English are featured there.
4. How can I still donate?
We are not a state funded organization, we are a grassroots organization which was set up by people from the Surinamese and Black community in the Netherlands. Because we still need to archive (book) collections of The Black Archives and make it possible to run the archive, all donations are welcome. You can donate via NL06 ABNA 0246 4020 83 with 'Donation The Black Archives, and your name'.
5. Can I also donate books or artifacts?
You can also donate your books/magazines and other archival/artifacts to The Black Archives. We don't have a lot of space at the moment. If you have tips for space, let us know. We hope to be able to receive bigger donations on a later moment. We do accept small donations. For other options and questions, please send us a message via [email protected].
6. How can I support The Black Archives as a volunteer?
At The Black Archives, we can use all help. We are looking for volunteers who can help us with moving, sorting out books, entering book titles, interviewing, transcribing, helping at events etc. Would you like to contribute to The Black Archives (weekdays, Saturdays and evenings), please send an email to [email protected] in English with what interests you the most. We offer a small fee and the activities are on-call.
Guided tours and lectures
7. How can I sign up for a guided tour at The Black Archives?
8. Is a tour possible through The Black Archives?
You can sign up for a tour and send a message in regard to Claire Boogaard to [email protected].
The tours focus on the origin of the organization and several special & important pieces of the archive. The tours are for groups. It can be your friends, family, school, study or colleagues. It's through the archive, our books and documents. We can also cater to your requested subjects.
9. Is the tour suitable for children and young people?
The tours are suitable for secondary school students, vocational education (MBO), higher professional education (HBO), and university students. For primary schools, we currently offer tours for ages 11-12. We are developing a program for young children, which we hope to implement in 2026.
10. Do you also give guided tours, lectures and guest lectures?
Yes, we give guided tours in The Black Archives and guest lectures on other locations regularly. During the guided tours, you will be introduced to the archive and some of the hidden Black history based on unique archives material. For more information, visit our Services page or send a message to [email protected].
11. Is it possible to rent a space at The Black Archives?
Yes, for sure. On our current location, the space is available for meetings, workshops and small events for up to 75 persons. Read more on our Services and/or make a request via [email protected].
Other questions
12. Is the building is accessible for disabled persons, all elderly people and people with a physical disability?
The Black Archives is (temporarily) located on Bijlmerplein 140, Amsterdam. It's located in the shopping center Amsterdamse Poort and on the ground floor. It is a former clothing shop and therefore accessible to people in a wheelchair or with a physical disability. We unfortunately do not have a toilet for disabled persons.
13. I am looking for my roots. Where can I start?
In the future, we hope to support you in the search for your roots. Currently, we can especially people with roots in Surinam through the book "Familienaam & Verwantschap van Geëmancipeerde Slaven in Suriname" by H. E. Lamur. The book contains the registry of the emancipated people who used to be enslaved in Surinam. Based on your last name you may be able to track on which plantation your ancestors were enslaved. Please note that we cannot always find your last name, but we can always try.
For your own research, you can check out this source by the 'Centrum voor familiegeschiedenis (CBG)'. They have step-by-steps to search for your roots from Suriname, the former Dutch Indies, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint-Eustatius and Sint-Maarten. It is in Dutch.
1. How can I visit the collection of The Black Archives for (own) research, and/or to consult literature?
The Black Archives is still in the process of archiving and preservation the collection. This means that we are working on making The Black Archives publicly accessible. It is not open for research yet. You can consult our NUC (New Urban Collective) book collection on our location at Bijlmerplein 140, Amsterdam from Wednesdays-Saturdays at 11AM-5PM.
We regularly organize guided tours in the archive. If you want to know more about The Black Archives, its history and learn about exceptional artifacts in the archive sign up for a tour and send a message in regard to Claire Boogaard to [email protected]
2. Is there a literature list available if I want to know more about the history of slavery and colonialism and its legacy (institutional racism) and decolonization?
We recommend to start with the following books if you want to learn more about the Dutch context:
- Philomena Essed - Everyday Racism
- Gloria Wekker - ‘White Innocence’ (Engelse vertaling)
- Philomena Essed and Isabel Hoving (ed.) - Dutch Racism
- Kwame Nimako and Glenn Willemsen - The Dutch Atlantic
A good start to learn about the challenges such as social exclusion, discrimination, whiteness and racism are:
- Audre Lorde - I Am Your Sister / Sister Outsider
- Angela Davis - Women, Race and Class
- Maayke Botman / Nancy Jouwe / Gloria Wekker - Caleidiscopische visies (DUTCH)
- Sharon Patricia Holland - Black Queer Studies
- Patricia Collins - Black Feminist Thought
Support TBA
3. When will future events of The Black Archives take place?
We have a program which involved themes of The Black Archives. You can find it on the website under the item Agenda, but also follow us on our Instagram account and Facebook.
NOTE: Dutch events are not listed on the English Agenda page. Only events in English are featured there.
4. How can I still donate?
We are not a state funded organization, we are a grassroots organization which was set up by people from the Surinamese and Black community in the Netherlands. Because we still need to archive (book) collections of The Black Archives and make it possible to run the archive, all donations are welcome. You can donate via NL06 ABNA 0246 4020 83 with 'Donation The Black Archives, and your name'.
5. Can I also donate books or artifacts?
You can also donate your books/magazines and other archival/artifacts to The Black Archives. We don't have a lot of space at the moment. If you have tips for space, let us know. We hope to be able to receive bigger donations on a later moment. We do accept small donations. For other options and questions, please send us a message via [email protected].
6. How can I support The Black Archives as a volunteer?
At The Black Archives, we can use all help. We are looking for volunteers who can help us with moving, sorting out books, entering book titles, interviewing, transcribing, helping at events etc. Would you like to contribute to The Black Archives (weekdays, Saturdays and evenings), please send an email to [email protected] in English with what interests you the most. We offer a small fee and the activities are on-call.
Guided tours and lectures
7. How can I sign up for a guided tour at The Black Archives?
8. Is a tour possible through The Black Archives?
You can sign up for a tour and send a message in regard to Claire Boogaard to [email protected].
The tours focus on the origin of the organization and several special & important pieces of the archive. The tours are for groups. It can be your friends, family, school, study or colleagues. It's through the archive, our books and documents. We can also cater to your requested subjects.
9. Is the tour suitable for children and young people?
The tours are suitable for secondary school students, vocational education (MBO), higher professional education (HBO), and university students. For primary schools, we currently offer tours for ages 11-12. We are developing a program for young children, which we hope to implement in 2026.
10. Do you also give guided tours, lectures and guest lectures?
Yes, we give guided tours in The Black Archives and guest lectures on other locations regularly. During the guided tours, you will be introduced to the archive and some of the hidden Black history based on unique archives material. For more information, visit our Services page or send a message to [email protected].
11. Is it possible to rent a space at The Black Archives?
Yes, for sure. On our current location, the space is available for meetings, workshops and small events for up to 75 persons. Read more on our Services and/or make a request via [email protected].
Other questions
12. Is the building is accessible for disabled persons, all elderly people and people with a physical disability?
The Black Archives is (temporarily) located on Bijlmerplein 140, Amsterdam. It's located in the shopping center Amsterdamse Poort and on the ground floor. It is a former clothing shop and therefore accessible to people in a wheelchair or with a physical disability. We unfortunately do not have a toilet for disabled persons.
13. I am looking for my roots. Where can I start?
In the future, we hope to support you in the search for your roots. Currently, we can especially people with roots in Surinam through the book "Familienaam & Verwantschap van Geëmancipeerde Slaven in Suriname" by H. E. Lamur. The book contains the registry of the emancipated people who used to be enslaved in Surinam. Based on your last name you may be able to track on which plantation your ancestors were enslaved. Please note that we cannot always find your last name, but we can always try.
For your own research, you can check out this source by the 'Centrum voor familiegeschiedenis (CBG)'. They have step-by-steps to search for your roots from Suriname, the former Dutch Indies, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint-Eustatius and Sint-Maarten. It is in Dutch.
Openingstijden/Opening TimesJe kunt ons bezoeken van woensdag tot en met zaterdag / Visit us on Wednesday through Saturday:
Woensdag/Wednesday 11.00 - 17.00 uur Donderdag/Thursday 11.00 - 17.00 uur Vrijdag/Friday 11.00 - 17.00 uur Zaterdag/Saturday 11.00 - 17.00 uur Onze nieuwe locatie in Amsterdam Zuidoost is geopend. Neem contact op via de pagina contact voor rondleidingen buiten het programma. We moved to South East Amsterdam. Contact us via the page contact for tours outside our program. |
(Rolstoel)toegankelijkheid/Accessibility
The Black Archives bevindt zich op de begane grond en is toegankelijk voor personen met een fysieke beperking en voor rolstoelgebruikers.
At this moment, The Black Archives is accessible for people with physical disabiliteis as we are located on the ground floor. |