On July 1st, 'Free Heri Heri For All' will take place. Free Heri Heri For All was developed by KIP Republic in memory of the slavery past and to connect history with the present. The first edition took place in 2020 with 4,000 free dishes distributed across all Amsterdam districts, and has now grown into a national celebration where this year more than 20,000 Heri Heri dishes will be distributed in eight provinces.
July 1, 1863 is a day that is etched in Dutch history: on this historic day, the abolition of slavery in the Kingdom of the Netherlands took place. Today we celebrate this day under the name Keti Koti, which stands for 'broken chains'. Where different groups come together to commemorate the complex past, Free Heri Heri For All goes a step further by connecting food, art, culture, and people. The goal is to commemorate and celebrate the abolition in a connecting way, from within society.
Strength in togetherness
National organizations, individual partners, chefs, and thousands of interested people come together during Free Heri Heri For All to honor our enslaved ancestors. The importance of celebrating this day is endorsed by the fifty participating organizations and thus hundreds of people who are part of this movement. This includes all major city museums such as the Tropenmuseum, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Museum, and Stedelijk Museum, the HipHopHuis in Rotterdam, Eindje 0 Filter in Eindhoven, Kraft Heinz, ABN AMRO, Google, PVH Clothing Company, Tony's Chocolonely, Kult&Ace agency, Hammerfest, and many more. "Together we are realizing our own, authentic self-proclaimed national holiday that arises from society," says Ayra Kip on behalf of KIP Republic.
Heri Heri connects the slavery past with the here and now
Prepared according to the original recipe of the Kip family, various chefs are getting ready to realize the 20,000 meals. The colorful presentation of the dish is thanks to the fresh perspective of Joris Bijdendijk, known from Restaurant Wils and RIJKS. Heri Heri is a Surinamese dish, originating from what was left over on the plantation and what was eaten by the enslaved ancestors. The dish consists of sweet potato, green banana, yellow banana, cassava, salted fish (bakkeljauw), and egg. This combination creates a unique flavor palette, which is also the reason why Heri Heri is now considered a delicacy.
National expansion
In 2021, several cities and regions (such as Tilburg, Almere, Rotterdam, and the province of Friesland) joined Free Heri Heri For All. This year, no less than eight cities and regions are participating, including Amsterdam, Almere, Arnhem, Eindhoven, Tilburg, The Hague, Rotterdam, and the province of Friesland. "For us, the expansion of Free Heri Heri For All shows that people across the country find this day important and that the repeated narrative of disinterest does not align at all with the needs of society. The Netherlands is more ready than ever to become aware of this shared history or even to come to reconciliation," says Ayra Kip.
Additional activities strengthen the powerful message
In the context of the abolition of slavery, various cities are organizing additional activities starting at the end of June. From June 30 to July 2, you can visit the play 'If A Black Girl Knew' at Huis Oostpool in Arnhem. The play creatively tells the story of the influence that the colonial past has on the self-image of the Black woman and how the Black woman is viewed by others. Exhibitions are also taking place in other cities, including at podium Mozaïek and Theater Bellevue in Amsterdam and Pier 21 in Leeuwarden.
More information about the activities can be found on the websites of the respective participating parties. For a complete list of the pickup locations, please consult the website.
