Tue. 15 Oct. 2024

Exhibition ‘Schokkers and the Evacuation’

October 25 until March 2

In 1859, something significant happens on the island of Schokland, a narrow strip of land in the Zuiderzee. On orders from the government, the island is evacuated: due to the poor living conditions and high maintenance costs, the residents must leave. The Schokkers are forced to rebuild their lives elsewhere, settling in various villages and towns.

165 years later, the Schokker identity still endures. The descendants of the former inhabitants continue to feel a strong connection to their ancestors and the former island, now surrounded by the new polder landscape of Flevoland and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. But who were the last inhabitants of Schokland? And how powerful can memories of an island be when you only know it through stories?

Museum Schokland presents this exhibition to showcase the Schokker identity and its connection to the vanished island. This is done through the experiences of the Schokker Association and the book The Island of Anna by writer and historian Eva Vriend. Through portraits of Schokkers and the story of the evacuation, the history is told from various perspectives.

The exhibition ‘Schokkers and the Evacuation’ will be on display from October 25 until March 2 in the Museum Church of Museum Schokland.

This exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Schokkervereniging, the Zuiderzeemuseum, Eva Vriend, and Henk van Heerde. The opening of the exhibition will take place on October 24.

Please note: the primary language of the exhibition is Dutch. For information about English availability, please inquire before your visit.