Every year on July 1, we celebrate Keti Koti, the abolition of slavery, and commemorate the Dutch history of slavery. Please note: the start and end times given are approximate.
Free entrance
Keti Koti Festival - Museumplein
Dates
Thu 1 Jul13:00 - 23:00
Location
Museumplein, Museumplein -, 1071 ZB Amsterdam
Standing still to remember and also celebrating together
Keti Koti has been commemorated and celebrated in Amsterdam for many years. It is a moment when the city comes together to reflect on the crime of slavery against humanity, what enslaved people experienced, and the consequences that still resonate today.
In 1873, the last enslaved people were freed. This is more recent than it may seem. There are still people alive today who knew someone who was forced to live as a slave - a great-grandfather or great-grandmother, for example.
During the annual Keti Koti Festival, we reflect on the past and look forward to the future, celebrating freedom, equality, and solidarity. The purpose is to broaden our knowledge and deepen our insight into past events, leading to a joining of forces for a shared future.
The festival at Museumplein lasts from 13:00 - 23:00. During the national commemoration inOosterpark (from 14:00 - 15:15), the festival on the Museumplein will halt as attendees watch the ceremony live on large screens.
