BRUSSELS: Europe’s colonial legacy remains embedded in financial, political and cultural institutions long after formal empire ended, according to an exhibition highlighted by The Brussels Times on August 24.
The exhibition at the House of European History in Brussels examines what remained after former colonies gained independence. It focuses on economic obligations, unequal power structures and continuing disputes over restitution and representation.
Haiti is presented as a prominent example. France demanded 150 million gold francs in compensation in exchange for recognising Haitian independence, forcing the country to borrow from French banks and creating what became known as the “double debt.”
The New York Times estimated that Haiti ultimately paid the equivalent of about $560 million in today’s money. Payments linked to the debt continued until 1947.
The exhibition also cites post-colonial financial burdens involving Indonesia and the Netherlands. In addition, it covers Congo and Belgium, and West and Central African countries tied to France through the CFA franc.
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In Belgium, debates continue over statues of King Leopold II and the restitution and display of colonial-era objects at the AfricaMuseum. There is also debate about how colonial history is taught in schools and public institutions.
The exhibition argues that colonialism formed a central part of European history. It also influenced societies beyond the states that formally controlled colonies.
Its location carries institutional significance. The House of European History opened in 2017 near the European Parliament in Brussels to examine the continent’s history and integration.
The August 23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition was established by UNESCO. It commemorates the 1791 uprising in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti.
