The Dutch Colonial Legacies in Africa: From Colonialism to Apartheid

Abstract:
    The Dutch presence and influence through the lens of colonialism, settlement, racism, and the African diaspora is still strongly embodied in many ways. New York City, the capital of finance and trade, was originally a Dutch colony, and De Beers, the world›s most famous diamond company, traces its lineage back to a diamond field named after a Dutch settler who plundered the precious lands of southern Africa. The settlers formed communities known as Afrikaners, after the language they spoke, which was heavily influenced by Dutch. These communities formed the basis of the apartheid system established in South Africa. The Netherlands also played a role in the African diaspora. The Maroon communities of Suriname in South America are originally from West Africa and fought against slavery to gain their freedom.