Cooking Together at the Royal Palace Amsterdam

By opening the kitchens of the Royal Palace Amsterdam in the lead-up to Keti Koti 2023 and 2024, His Majesty the King created a space not only for preparing meals, but also for dialogue, reflection, and connection.

Together with volunteers, chefs from KIP Republic, and staff of the Royal Household, Chef de Cuisine Daniël Adriaan and Senior Chef Wilco Arts helped prepare thousands of Heri Heri meals for the Free Heri Heri For All initiative. Looking back, both chefs describe the experience as deeply meaningful.

“I’ve been eating Heri Heri for as long as I can remember,” says Daniël, who grew up in Suriname until the age of twelve. “Where I grew up in Coronie, we didn’t eat it during Keti Koti. It was here that I learned about Heri Heri as a dish that honors our ancestors and remembers the history of slavery.”

Wilco had heard of Heri Heri through his partner, who has Surinamese roots, but only tasted it for the first time during the initiative. “I didn’t realize how much history this dish carries. When I started reading about it, I learned that these ingredients sustained enslaved people for centuries.”

Building Connection

For both chefs, preparing Heri Heri together became much more than cooking.

“Everyone came into the Palace kitchens with enthusiasm and a smile,” Daniël recalls. “In just a few days we built a real bond. By the end, it was surprisingly emotional.”

For Wilco, the experience also filled an important gap in his own education. “At school I learned very little about the Dutch history of slavery. Through this project, I realized how many people continue to live with its legacy. Listening to conversations among chefs with Surinamese and Afro-Caribbean backgrounds gave me a deeper understanding. We cannot change the past, but we can keep talking about it.”

Daniël shares that sentiment. “Reflecting on history helps prevent it from being forgotten or repeated. In my own family, these stories were rarely discussed, and I'm still discovering new ones. This experience made me feel even more connected to Keti Koti and to the chefs of KIP Republic.”

Looking Ahead

Both chefs hope more restaurants will join Free Heri Heri For All in the years to come.

“The more kitchens that participate, the more conversations we can have,” says Wilco.

Daniël believes the history of slavery belongs to everyone in the Netherlands. “I hope Keti Koti will one day be commemorated and celebrated nationwide, just like Liberation Day. Learning about this shared history creates greater understanding, while celebrating through food, music, and culture brings people together. Looking back, cooking Heri Heri in the Palace fills me with joy, and I hope it inspires many others.”

Wilco agrees. “I want to continue being part of this tradition. It has truly touched me.”