On Monday 30 June and Tuesday 1 July 2025, Venlo will open its heart for the first ever two-day Keti Koti event. The moment when we commemorate the history of slavery and celebrate its abolition on 1 July 1863.

Through stories from our shared history, music, theatre, spoken word, rituals and traditional snacks, together we will create a meaningful space for reflection and connection. The programme, carefully curated by Cedric Kenti and Nina-Elisa Euson, will be announced soon.

30 June walk-in from 19:00, programme starts at 19:30 Maaspoort (Oude Markt 30)
1 July from 18:00 Café Montego Bay (Heutzstraat 34)

Access to Keti Koti Venlo is free of charge. A free ticket is required for the programme on Monday 30 June.
Everyone is welcome! Commemorate together, celebrate together.
 

Programme

30 June 2025 Maaspoort (Oude Markt 30)

19:00 - 19:30 walk-in
19:30 - 20:15 panel discussion moderated by Isaiah Jiménez with 3 generations of Surinamese from Venlo: Benny Alexander, Joanice Kogeldans and Cedric Kenti
20:15 -20:45 break with free drink Surinamese snacks
20:45 - 21:30 documentary Stille Helden
21:30 - 22:15 theatre performance Stille Helden
22:15 end of programme with room for discussion

Ongoing: exhibition with traditional Surinamese costumes compiled by Jacintha Overman

1 July 2025 Café Montego Bay (Heutzstraat 34)

18:00 - 19:00 walk-in snacks JMB (DJ)
19:00 - 19:15 opening spoken word Cedric Kenti & Lucy Witteman (conga)
19:15 - 20:00 JMB (DJ)
20:00 - 21:00 Switi Ten (kaseko music)
21:00 - 21:15 spoken word Cedric Kenti & Lucy Witteman (conga)
21:15 - 22:00 JMB (DJ)
22:00 - 22:45 Warimbo Krioro (kawina music)
22:45 - 23:00 closing spoken word Cedric Kenti & Lucy Witteman (conga)

Venlo Library has a reading table on the slavery past throughout the period.
 

Wan switi manspasi dey

Keti Koti Venlo is made possible by Café Montego Bay, House of Confetti, Maaspoort, Grenswerk, De Nieuwe Scène, Library Venlo, museum van Bommel van Dam, We Are Today, Venlo Kleurt and Venlo municipality. With special thanks to Benny Alexander, Cedric Kenti, Nina-Elisa Euson, Sensimelia Nasa, Lucy Witteman, Fatou, Wieke Vrijhoef, Irene Heldens and Sjanneke Hendrix.