The Eindhoven artist Victor Sonna (1977) created the colorful design for the Brabant contribution. He included various references to former colonies in the west and east, as well as to Brabant places such as Eindhoven, Helmond, Den Bosch, and Breda. By allowing people to work together on this tapestry, there is also the opportunity to share stories about the past and present and to get to know each other. The goal is to create mutual understanding and to build a future in which everyones background is treated with respect. Alderman Maes van Lanschot (Heritage): By working together on this beautiful artwork, we depict our intertwined history.

Get Involved

Everyone from the age of 9 is welcome to help work on the artwork. No experience is necessary. Volunteers will be present for explanations and support. Various techniques will be used, such as embroidery, tufting, and quilting. Participation is possible every Wednesday and Friday from April 16 to June 27 (from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM).

On the Sundays of May 11, May 25, and June 22, between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM, people are also welcome at the Van Abbemuseum to work on a part of the Brabant tapestry. Residents of Vitalis Berckelhof are also participating. They will even work the first week of June at a pop-up location at Eindhoven Central Station.

Not only in Eindhoven, but also in other places in Brabant, work is being done on the tapestry, such as at Museum Helmond, Nieuwe Veste Breda, Spectrum Schijndel, and TextielMuseum Tilburg. Once all parts are ready, the tapestry of 35 x 2.5 meters will be exhibited in its entirety at the TextielMuseum Tilburg. Afterwards, the tapestry will travel through the province.

A National Project

‘Threads of Our Dutch Slavery Past’ is an initiative by Ricardo Burgzorg, project leader on behalf of Stichting Villa Maecenatis. In various provinces, people are working on a tapestry. All these monumental tapestries contribute to greater knowledge and awareness of the slavery past of the Netherlands and its impact on our time. Only through recognition of what once went wrong can a society hopefully build a future.

• More information about the project in Eindhoven: eindhoven.nl/wandkleedslavernijverleden
• More information about Threads of Our Dutch Slavery Past: dvons.nl