Congo Free State (1885-1908)

Illustration of the educational dossier “Koloniaal Congo: over feiten en mythes”
Seven experts on seven Frequently Asked Questions

Debates on the colonial past are often full of slogans and clichés. This teaching package brings nuance, with insights from Belgian scholars.

In seven videos, experts answer questions on seven themes: the civilizing mission, violence, propaganda, wealth, forced labor, anti-colonial resistance, and decolonization. Each video is accompanied by additional historical sources and a contemporary reflection.

On the Hannah Arendt learning platform, your students can work through the entire teaching package – or you can select themes to focus on.

Place & period
Congo Free State (1885-1908)
Belgian Congo (1908-1960)
Theme
Decolonization
Economy
Violence
Independance
Propaganda
Racism
Religion
Resistance
Type
Lesson package
Historical sources
Video
Year
2022
Language
Dutch
Target audience
3rd stage secondary
Duration
7 x 20 min.
Cover “DEMOtour: traces of the colonial past”
Finding colonial traces around the Royal Palace in Brussels

Belgium’s colonial past left many traces, both figuratively and literally. Our public space is an example of the latter.

This walking tour conceived by the BELvue museum features eight stops in the vicinity of their neighbor: the Royal Palace of Brussels. Within this small city area, in the heart of Belgium's capital, many streets, squares, statues, busts, buildings, posters, and artworks unexpectedly bear witness to the colonial past.

Through hands-on and observational activities, your students gradually – both literally and figuratively – explore the past and present of Belgian colonialism.

Place & period
Congo Free State (1885-1908)
Belgian Congo (1908-1960)
DR Congo (1960-...)
Theme
Decolonization
Diaspora
Heritage and memory
Propaganda
Type
Walk
Work of art
Organisation
Language
Dutch
French
Target audience
2nd stage secondary
3rd stage secondary
Duration
150 min.
Photo of a man playing the game “Perspectives on the Colonial Past”
A virtual journey through the eyes of seven characters

Life in Congo during the colonial period was far from the same for everyone.

In this online game, students reconstruct the everyday world of a historical figure. Their story takes shape from photographs, maps, newspaper articles, paintings, and testimonies that bring the past to life. 

Will your students step into the shoes of a Congolese forced laborer, a Force Publique soldier, an "évolué", or a housewife? Or will they become a Belgian missionary sister, a railway worker, or the wife of a plantation owner? And what is their message for us today?

[This game is also available as workshop in the BELvue museum]

Place & period
Precolonial (…-1885)
Congo Free State (1885-1908)
Belgian Congo (1908-1960)
Theme
Governance
Economy
Gender
Violence
Independance
Racism
Religion
Type
Game
Workshop
Historical sources
Testimony
Video
Work of art
Organisation
Year
2021
Language
Dutch
French
Target audience
Primary education
1st stage secondary
2nd stage secondary
3rd stage secondary
Duration
30 min (game); 180 min (workshop)
Photo of a protest march in Brussels after the death of George Floyd in 2020
Explore current debates through a historical lens

How to discuss Belgium’s colonial past with your class?

In this educational package from the BELvue museum, students have to think for themselves. They analyze opinion pieces, historical syntheses, and primary sources in order to form their own informed viewpoint on the colonial past. Five contemporary hot topics are dealt with: 

  1. Colonial monuments
  2. The comic Tintin in Congo
  3. Restitution of artworks
  4. Political apologies
  5. Reparations

Which themes would you like to explore with your class? Or do you rather want to search through the 24 historical sources with accompanying questions to find new material for your own lessons?

Place & period
Precolonial (…-1885)
Congo Free State (1885-1908)
Belgian Congo (1908-1960)
Theme
Governance
Decolonization
Economy
Heritage and memory
Gender
Violence
Education
Propaganda
Racism
Religion
Resistance
Type
Lesson package
Historical sources
Organisation
Year
2021
Language
Dutch
French
Target audience
3rd stage secondary
Duration
(5x) 50 min.
Photo of the history gallery at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in 2024
Student reporters critically cover the colonial past

Tintin in Congo – but with a critical perspective?

In this workshop, students take on the role of video journalists in the galleries of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) in Tervuren. Their mission: to produce a video report on Belgium’s colonial history in Congo.

Through Congolese paintings, they explore the perspective of the colonized population. They support their story with texts, objects, and maps discovered in the museum’s history gallery.

Place & period
Precolonial (…-1885)
Congo Free State (1885-1908)
Belgian Congo (1908-1960)
DR Congo (1960-...)
Theme
Governance
Decolonization
Diaspora
Economy
Heritage and memory
Gender
Violence
Independance
Education
Propaganda
Racism
Religion
Resistance
Type
Workshop
Expo
Work of art
Organisation
Language
Dutch
French
Target audience
3rd stage secondary
Duration
150 min.
Photo of the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren in 2021
A museum immersion into the colonial past

Can the past ever be shed? The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) in Tervuren is a contested space up until present day, carrying the legacy of decades as a colonial propaganda instrument.

Today, the AfricaMuseum aims to offer a critical perspective on its own colonial roots and today's society. During a guided tour, students gain insight into pre-colonial Central African history, colonial violence, local resistance and racism. 

Admission is free for minors!

Place & period
Precolonial (…-1885)
Congo Free State (1885-1908)
Belgian Congo (1908-1960)
Ruanda-Urundi (1919-1962)
DR Congo (1960-...)
Rwanda (1962-…)
Burundi (1962-…)
Theme
Governance
Decolonization
Diaspora
Economy
Heritage and memory
Gender
Violence
Independance
Education
Propaganda
Racism
Religion
Resistance
Type
Guided tour
Expo
Organisation
Language
Dutch
French
Target audience
2nd stage secondary
3rd stage secondary
Duration
90 min.
Cover of the book “Congo: Colonization/Decolonization. History in Documents”
Hundreds of historical sources for your classes

The AfricaMuseum’s collection holds thousands of historical records from the colonial period. This book selects hundreds of texts, photographs, maps, videos, audio clips, objects, posters, artworks, and testimonies, specifically tailored for teachers.

A timeline, glossary, and historical context provide insight into the long history of the DR Congo. In addition to focused themes such as resistance, segregation, and representation, the book also takes a multiperspective approach to the colonial past.

All sources are available on a DVD-ROM.

Place & period
Precolonial (…-1885)
Congo Free State (1885-1908)
Belgian Congo (1908-1960)
DR Congo (1960-...)
Theme
Governance
Decolonization
Diaspora
Economy
Heritage and memory
Gender
Violence
Independance
Education
Propaganda
Racism
Religion
Resistance
Type
Book
Historical sources
Video
Audio
Database
Testimony
Work of art
Organisation
Year
2012
Language
French
Dutch
Target audience
1st stage secondary
2nd stage secondary
3rd stage secondary
Duration
N/A