The trading of African people who were forced into slavery was the ‘core business’ of the MCC (The Middelburgse Commercie Compagnie). The archive of the MCC has been declared to be a ‘Memory of the World’ by UNESCO. The trading of Africans who were forced into slavery was the ‘core business’ of the MCC (The Middelburgse Commercie Compagnie). From 1732 to 1807, 31.095 African slaves were bought by the MCC with the intention to sell them in the West Indies. The archive of the MCC is kept by the Zeeland Archives and is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Choose a story
Slave Trade of the MCC
The trading of African people who were forced into slavery was the ‘core business’ of the MCC (The Middelburgse Commercie Compagnie). The archive of the MCC has been declared a ‘Memory of the World'.
Living cargo for accounts in Zeeland
The Middelburgse Commercie Compagnie (MCC) traded approximately 31.000 African individuals who were forced into slavery.
Racial representation rarely included in archives
Prof. Dr. Gert Oostindie, professor Caribbean history at the University of Leiden elaborates on the recent debate on slavery: "Racial representation is rarely included in archival documents."
Commemoration abolition of slave trade
In 2013, the Netherlands commemorated the abolition of slavery in 1863. While the Netherlands abolished the Trans-Atlantic slave trade in 1814. On the 14th of June Zeeland commemorates these events.
Research results of UCR-students
University College Roosevelt (UCR) which is located in Middelburg, has turned its focus for two semesters on the archive of the MCC.