Grafteken van Abraham van der Hulst in de Oude Kerk te Amsterdam 1911

This photograph captures the gravestone of Abraham van der Hulst, located in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam. Though the artist is unknown, the monument itself speaks volumes about the Dutch Golden Age and its relationship to maritime power. Van der Hulst was a 17th-century Dutch admiral. His gravestone is an elaborate display of wealth and status, adorned with symbols of naval victory and classical figures. It reflects the cultural values of a society that profited immensely from global trade, including the exploitation and enslavement of people in colonized lands. The angels blowing trumpets, the crests, and the sea battle depicted, all reinforce a narrative of Dutch exceptionalism and divine right. Yet, as we stand before this monument, it’s crucial to remember the human cost of such "glory." The stories of those who were marginalized, oppressed, and erased by this era of expansion. It asks us to confront the complexities of history. To consider whose stories are told and whose are left out.