The Johan de Witt (1626-1672) monument in The Hague’s Buitenhof 33 commemorates the life and legacy of the Dutch Republic’s leader during the Dutch Golden Age (1588-1672). This paper used memory as...Show moreThe Johan de Witt (1626-1672) monument in The Hague’s Buitenhof 33 commemorates the life and legacy of the Dutch Republic’s leader during the Dutch Golden Age (1588-1672). This paper used memory as ars, and memory as vis, as theoretical lenses to discuss the significance of the site of Johan de Witt monument to the meaning of past, its relevance to the present and future. The memory stored at the site of the monument influences how people perceive the site as the location of the lynching of the brothers de Witt in 1672. Whereas the aesthetics of the monument and the historical narrative make reference to a time when owning a slave plantation was seen as beneficial to the thriving economy. The monument depicts Johan de Witt’s participation in slavery by referencing the Treaty of Breda in 1667 through the parchment on the monument’s hand and the fingers pertaining to his oath. The monument serves as a reminder of the differences in value and ideology between the old and new societies.Show less
