€355,000 funds slavery exhibition on Sint Eustatius
De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) is providing €355,000 for the Statia Foundation 2026 project on Sint Eustatius. The one-off contribution will fund a permanent slavery exhibition and educational activities at Museum Fort Oranje.
Fort Oranje preserves island history
The Statia Foundation 2026 project will receive €355,000 to create a permanent exhibition on Sint Eustatius's legacy of slavery and role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people.
Educational activities will promote knowledge, awareness and dialogue about that history.
Museum Fort Oranje overlooks the historic lower town, which developed into a major Caribbean trading centre during the 18th century.
The exhibition will give the island's historical links to slavery a lasting place at a site closely connected to that history.
The museum brings together historical sources, local stories and educational activities for residents, schoolchildren and visitors.
€5 million backs earlier apologies
On July 1, 2022, then DNB President Klaas Knot apologised for the bank's role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people.
DNB allocated €5 million for one-off contributions supporting education, awareness and historical heritage preservation to reinforce those apologies.
Earlier recipients included projects in Aruba, Curaçao, Saba, Suriname and the Netherlands.
The Sint Eustatius contribution extends this support to awareness-raising initiatives on the island.
Two channels for legacy support
The museum grant supports education and heritage preservation through a one-off contribution.
DNB also established the DNB Fund with the Culture Fund.
That separate channel supports local initiatives to reduce slavery's continuing impact on descendants of enslaved people.