1 July every year
Across Suriname, and in the Netherlands, especially in Amsterdam.
Join remembrance ceremonies, watch the Bigi Spikri parade, share traditional food and reflect on freedom.
Keti Koti: the chain is cut (Sranantongo)
On 1 July 1863, the Netherlands abolished slavery in Suriname and its Caribbean colonies. Freedom was not immediate: enslaved people were forced to continue working on plantations for a further ten years under state supervision, until 1873. Keti Koti, Sranantongo for “the chain is cut”, remembers the suffering of enslaved people and their descendants, and celebrates their resilience and freedom. In Suriname, the day is a national holiday, officially called Dag der Vrijheden, the Day of Freedoms.
The day often begins with remembrance ceremonies and moments of reflection, honouring ancestors and acknowledging the lasting effects of slavery. In Paramaribo, celebrations include Bigi Spikri, a colourful parade in festive and traditional dress, where many women carry small white parasols. Many women wear the traditional koto to honour their ancestors, and families share dishes such as heri heri, a one-pot dish of root vegetables such as cassava and sweet potato with egg, plantain and salt fish. Music, dance and gatherings continue through the day. In the Netherlands, a national commemoration and celebration has been held in Amsterdam’s Oosterpark since 2009, and many other towns hold their own events. How people mark the day varies by family and community.
Keti Koti is both a commemoration and a celebration. Many families use it as a moment to talk about history, share stories and honour those who came before.
Mark Keti Koti at home:
Coming soon to the App Store.
Remembrance ceremonies are solemn moments, so be quiet and respectful, and ask before taking photos of people. Festivals and parades are usually open to everyone. In the Netherlands, check local listings for events around 1 July.
It is Sranantongo for “the chain is cut” or “the chain is broken”, referring to the abolition of slavery.
Slavery was abolished on 1 July 1863, but enslaved people were forced to keep working on plantations under state supervision until 1873.
Yes. A national commemoration and celebration takes place in Amsterdam’s Oosterpark, and many towns hold their own events.
