This paper discusses the representation of slavery and colonial heritage on guided tours in Amsterdam, focusing on the spatial narratives used by tour guides and the factors shaping these narratives. The research highlights the influence of creating a positive atmosphere in engaging tourists with these sensitive topics. Additionally, the study provides a spatial mapping of the specific geographic sites in Amsterdam where slavery and colonial heritage narratives are told. The paper aims to showcase the transformative potential of tourism and tour guides in addressing slavery and heritage in a European urban setting.
slavery heritage
Wageningen: my guided walking tour of the traces of the slavery and colonial past
It is one thing to dream about it, one thing to get funding to research about it, one thing to teach about it and surely one thing to actually be the one to do it. This was a fully embodied experience for me. How could I have seen it when I first set out my … Continue reading Wageningen: my guided walking tour of the traces of the slavery and colonial past
Commemorating Keti Koti in Wageningen
For the third year running, there was a Keti Koti commemorative ceremony in Wageningen. I had missed the first two occasions because of my research fieldwork in Suriname in 2022 and research fieldwork in Amsterdam in 2023. Fortunately, I was able to stay local this year. Thus on Sunday 30 June 2024, I joined a … Continue reading Commemorating Keti Koti in Wageningen
Keti Koti 2024 in Wageningen
Are you aware of what is ahead on 30 June / 1 July in the Netherlands? Are you resident in Wageningen or surrounding areas? Over the coming few days we will be celebrating Keti Koti in Wageningen. On the afternoon of Sunday 30 June, I will be leading an interactive guided walking tour through the … Continue reading Keti Koti 2024 in Wageningen
Live and On Air: a podcast discussion on the #Yearof Return2019 paper
Are you looking for a new podcast episode to listen? Perhaps something 'slow and low...is the way to go' kind of episode that is soothing to the ear interspersed with nuggets of knowledge and opportunity to learn something new? Well, I have sometime to offer to you. Check out my session on the Tourism Geographies … Continue reading Live and On Air: a podcast discussion on the #Yearof Return2019 paper
Lisbon Letters IV: the arrival at the beginning of the end.
I had a rather early start for Day 4 of fieldwork. I was beginning to feel the intensity from the preceeding days of participant observation, interviews and conversations. I wished I could chill in bed for a while longer but that was not an option. My plan of attending an Easter Sunday Church service in … Continue reading Lisbon Letters IV: the arrival at the beginning of the end.
Lisbon Letters II: off the beaten track to find memorial absences
The second day of fieldwork started off with a bright sunny promise but alas it did not last long before it started pouring. I did at least manage to caught some sunshine in the morning as I wandered around with no particular itinerary. One of the things I enjoyed doing in a new city is … Continue reading Lisbon Letters II: off the beaten track to find memorial absences
In action: knowledge utilisation, research impact and problem-based learning
It is one thing for me to study #slavery and #colonial #heritage #tourism (#tours) in other places, but it is quite another to be involved in designing and developing a similar tour in my own city. Exactly a week ago, I had the privilege of participating in the first Decolonial Walking Tour Wageningen that was … Continue reading In action: knowledge utilisation, research impact and problem-based learning
[New paper, Open Access] Commemoration and commodification: slavery heritage, Black travel and the #YearofReturn2019 in Ghana
It took a while to cook this to the right taste but it is well done now....we are delighted to invite you to savour and enjoy this freshly baked off the hot press research article that has been published in the Tourism Geographies journal. This article forms part of the outputs from my ongoing NWO … Continue reading [New paper, Open Access] Commemoration and commodification: slavery heritage, Black travel and the #YearofReturn2019 in Ghana
Natal Notes II: The joyful hard work of fieldwork adventures in Recife, Olinda and Natal
After two days of intensive teaching we headed out in the early hours of last Wednesday for another 2 days of intensive fieldwork in Recife and Olinda + 1 day in Natal afterwards. A largely enjoyable 4 hour road trip on highway BR-101 brought us to the old centre of Recife. I learned that highway … Continue reading Natal Notes II: The joyful hard work of fieldwork adventures in Recife, Olinda and Natal