Keti Koti Festival
Every year on July 1, the abolishing of slavery is commemorated in various places in the Netherlands. Keti Koti reminds us of the importance of treating each other in an equal way. In Amsterdam, the commemoration and festival will take place in the Oosterpark.
Keti Koti Festival
Honorable Commemoration
Keti Koti means “Broken Chains” in the Surinamese language Sranantongo. When slavery was abolished in 1863, the population of the Netherlands Antilles and Suriname was exempted. Antillean and Surinamese Dutch contribute to the personality of Amsterdam and form an important part of many cultures that the city has today.
In recent years, Keti Koti has received more attention in the Netherlands to slowly but surely grow from a Surinamese-Caribbean event in Amsterdam into a national event.
Since July 1, 2000, there has been a national slavery commemoration in the Oosterpark, often attended by the mayor of Amsterdam and many involved, descendants and interested parties.
There are music and dance performances on various stages, traditional food and drinks, lectures, films, a Caribbean market and art can be enjoyed throughout the square.