The Surimombo plantation

Visual representations of Dutch plantations are exceptionally rare. At the beginning of the eighteenth century Jonas Witsen an Amsterdam plantation owner sent Dirk Valkenburg to his plantations to paint them. Valkenburg’s poetic impressions contrasted with the harsh reality. Witsen’s regime on the plantations was particularly severe. He abolished the rule that his slaves could grow their own vegetables on one day a week. This plantation is listed under number 51 on the outline map of De Lavaux’s plantations.