(2023) In this painting, you see the ship “De Salamander”, the vessel Jan Pieterszoon Coen used on his infamous journey to Banda, being swallowed by a giant kraken. If only that had actually happened, it could have spared the world a great deal of suffering.
Jan Pieterszoon Coen was the man who, in the 17th century, secured a monopoly on the spice trade. To achieve that, he murdered the whole population of the Banda Islands; around 15,000 people. In 1893, Coen was placed on a pedestal in the very heart of Hoorn, at the Roode Steen. Even at the time, the statue was controversial. The government wanted to glorify so-called national “heroes” to foster a sense of unity. Today, however, that statue does the opposite. It divides. Coen has come to symbolise the Dutch trading spirit: the so-called “VOC mentality.” That’s essentially about making as much money as possible at the expense of others. And that, in my view, is exactly what’s leading humanity to its downfall right now.
The Roode Steen is the beating heart of the city of Hoorn. It should be a space for all of us to enjoy together. But that’s not what it is today. So here’s my suggestion: let’s remove that villain and come up with something new, something that makes everyone feel welcome in the square.
Acrylic on canvas, 80×100 cm
