Gezicht op het West-Indisch Binnenhuis te Amsterdam c. 1770 - 1783

This print, made by Hermanus Petrus Schouten in Amsterdam, depicts the West India House. It's a fascinating window into the Dutch colonial past. Completed during the late 18th century, the print captures the architecture and atmosphere of this important institution. This was the headquarters of the Dutch West India Company, the organization responsible for governing Dutch colonies in the Americas and the Atlantic slave trade. The Company was intrinsically linked to plantation economies in the Americas. As such, this image provides a glimpse into the hub of a vast and complex network of trade, power, and exploitation. Understanding this image requires us to delve into the history of Dutch colonialism, its economic structures, and its social consequences. Primary sources like company records and personal letters can help us understand the day-to-day realities of this history and how it shaped both the Netherlands and its colonies.