A Utrecht professor speaks out against slavery

Jan Ackersdijck (1790-1861) was a professor of the relatively new subjects of State Economics and Statistics at Utrecht University and an ardent supporter of the abolition of slavery in the Dutch colonies.

In 1843, he founded an association, from which a journal emerged: Bijdragen tot de kennis der Nederlandsche en vreemde koloniën: bijzonder betrekkelijk de vrijlating der slaven (‘Contributions to the knowledge of Dutch and foreign colonies, with specific focus on the liberation of slaves.’)

The editors met every Monday at Ackersdijck's home address on the Oudegracht in Utrecht.

Ackersdijck died in 1861, so did not live to see the abolition of slavery in 1863.

The latest issue of the journal Pro Memorie (in Dutch) gives a detailed account of Ackersdijck's opposition to slavery and the history of the journal. For this article, written by Dr J.M. Milo, grateful use was made of the Ackersdijck collection of Special Collections.