Hidden Connections

What is the connection between the Van Abbemuseum and indentured labour on plantations in Sumatra? Why do we know so little about the work and lives of the workers there? And that while the situation on the plantations could be compared to slavery.

The tobacco that made cigar merchant Henri van Abbe rich, mostly came from plantations in Deli (in Sumatra). There, the tobacco was produced by means of indentured labour. This is how Henri van Abbe, the Van Abbemuseum and indentured labour are directly linked.

The words indentured labour, ‘Contractarbeid’ in Dutch, are misleading. Workers on the plantations did not work voluntarily. The Asian indentured workers were coerced, cheated, exploited and abused. Sometimes to the point of death. Their terrible working and living conditions led them to resist. However, the stories of their resistance are almost unknown.

Today, we want to highlight the hidden history of indentured labour, resistance and the origins of the Van Abbemuseum.

Met dank aan: Museum Perkebunan Indonesia, Eye Filmmuseum, Universiteit Leiden, Nationaal Archief Nederland, Nationaal Archief Suriname, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam