Not My Soul: Slavery, Law and Freedom

This exhibition at the Allard Pierson Museum focuses on the stories of countless enslaved people in antiquity and Suriname. A collaboration with the National Slavery Museum.
Not My Soul: Slavery, Law and Freedom
Look at this past anew – to listen to it and to give it meaning
Slavery has played a role in many societies and periods throughout history and still exists today. Not My Soul explores stories of slavery, law and freedom in antiquity and in Suriname. What influence did Roman law have on the way slavery was later organized in Suriname? How did enslaved people live in both periods, and how did they seek freedom?
A new perspective
In partnership with the National Slavery Museum, the Allard Pierson sheds new light on objects from its archaeological and Surinamica collections. These are objects whose stories have often been told from the perspective of those in power: emperors, plantation owners, and colonial rulers. Those are stories about wealth, power and domination. Behind this lies a reality of dehumanization, exploitation, and forced labour endured by countless enslaved people.
This exhibition places their stories at the centre. They were people whose freedom was taken from them but who, despite everything, retained their humanity through their work, creativity, care, language, love and resistance.
Dates and times
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Thursday 27 November | Time: 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday 28 November | Time: 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday 29 November | Time: 10:00 - 17:00 |
Accessibility
General accessibility provisions and information
Present, available or allowed
- Service dog allowed
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Provisions for people with reduced mobility
Present, available or allowed
- Stairs with handrail
- Lift
- Passageways that are sufficiently wide
- Accessible restroom
- Mobile payment
Provisions for people who are blind or partially sighted
Present, available or allowed
- Sensory experience
Provisions for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
Present, available or allowed
- Open captioning
Not present, not available or not allowed
- Personal assistant
- Guide lines
- Hearing loop (t-coil or headphones)
- Sign language interpretation provided
- Closed captioning
- Hidden disability Sunflower-keycord recognised here
- Low stimulus hours
- Audio description
- Accessible information
- Material in Braille











