Amsterdam City ArchivesThe Insinger sisters who founded the foundation of the same name in 1913
NOS Nieuws•maandag, 15:03
Insinger was a very big name during the time of slavery. The share of plantations in Suriname was considerable, the number of enslaved people enormous. But never before has research into the history of slavery been conducted on behalf of the Insingers themselves. Until now.
The Insinger Foundation, which supports charities in the Netherlands and the former Dutch colonies, has commissioned research into the origin of the foundation’s capital. The report, prepared by the International Institute of Social History (IISH), was presented this followingnoon.
“The company Insinger & Co was one of the most successful and profitable companies in the slavery sector,” the researchers write in the report. This refers to the bank, which was closely intertwined with the Insinger Foundation. The latter was founded in 1913 by two Insinger sisters. “The foundation might not have existed without the benefits of slavery,” the report says.
When slavery was abolished in 1863, the company Insinger & Co received more than 4 million euros for the buyout of more than 1,200 enslaved people from the Dutch government. Even following the abolition of slavery, the company continued to invest in the slavery economy. They invested in plantations, managed them and earned money from trading in coffee, tea, sugar and cocoa, for example.
Jeroen de JagerResearcher Bart van Holsteijn delved into the archive on behalf of the Insinger Foundation
Today, the Insinger Foundation, the private bank InsingerGillissen and family members bearing the name Insinger are no longer connected on paper. The foundation decided to investigate the origin of its equity in order to be transparent, says Henrick van Asch van Wijck on behalf of the board. “We think that the foundation’s policy can now be better focused on fencing.” It is not yet clear how the foundation wants to shape this.
Only a fraction of the Insingers’ assets were in the foundation, the vast majority of the assets were in the company Insinger & Co. That company is the predecessor of the current private bank InsingerGillissen. In 2020, the IISH conducted a first historical exploration on behalf of the bank. This showed that there is sufficient archival material available to conduct thorough research into the origin of the bank’s assets.
That investigation has not yet started, both the IISH and a spokesperson for the private bank InsingerGillissen confirm. “We are still in consultation with the IISH regarding this,” the bank explains.
Anneke PolakSecretary Henrick van Asch van Wijck during the presentation of the report
We feel responsible to be part of healing and recovery
Charlotte and Eline, descendants of the Insinger family
In addition to the Insinger Foundation and the private bank InsingerGillissen, there are also descendants of the Insinger family who still bear the name, but are not part of the bank or foundation. Such as Charlotte and her daughter Eline, who delved into the family history themselves last year. That search coincided with the commemoration year for the Dutch slavery past, 150 years following the abolition of slavery.
“We knew that our ancestors were active in the colonial economy from Amsterdam,” mother and daughter told NOS. “The dehumanizing activities that our ancestors undertook and the extent of them have dawned on us over the past year.”
Deep impression
“We have spoken with many people connected to this history regarding its repercussions in the present,” they continue. “That personal research and the books, performances, meetings, conversations and exhibitions that are part of it have made a deep impression on us. We feel that because of this history we have a responsibility to be part of healing and recovery.”
What that healing and recovery should look like is not yet clear to Charlotte and Eline. “The future will tell. In any case, we are convinced that recovery starts with taking note of the history of slavery and its impact in the here and now. This has made us realize that we are also a product of that. With that realization As descendants of the history of slavery, we can talk to each other regarding the path to healing and recovery.”
