National Archaeological and Anthropological Memory Management Foundation

The National Archaeological and Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM) Foundation is a nonprofit, non-governmental heritage organization based in Curaçao, in the Dutch Caribbean. It was founded in 1998 by the Central Government of the former Netherlands Antilles, succeeding the Archaeological Anthropological Institute of the Netherlands Antilles (AAINA). Building on AAINA's legacy, NAAM broadened its mission to include oral history, community-based heritage work and inclusive storytelling, and today presents itself as a leading research and knowledge center in the Dutch Caribbean, bridging past and present through academic inquiry and public engagement. NAAM's work centers on Caribbean and Curaçaoan history, the legacy of slavery and colonialism, Indigenous and migrant narratives, and cultural landscapes and environmental change. It pursues these themes through a multidisciplinary approach combining archaeology, anthropology, education and policy. Its core tasks include archaeological and anthropological research — from excavations to oral histories — and conservation and heritage management, in which it manages the national heritage collection of artifacts, documents, photographs, maps and audiovisual materials, using modern technologies such as GPS mapping and digital registration. The foundation describes heritage as more than preservation: in its own framing, heritage is a living source of identity, connection and belonging, and through research, knowledge-sharing and inclusive access to Curaçao's cultural heritage it aims to keep that legacy visible, relevant and meaningful for present and future generations. It is also associated with a national anthropology and archaeology museum in Willemstad, Curaçao, opened in 1998, whose collections include numerous pre-Columbian archaeological objects as well as ethnographic objects from the late nineteenth century to the present. As part of a digital transformation journey, NAAM has launched a new website to bring its work, knowledge and heritage collection into a more accessible digital space, with features such as interactive access planned in phases. The organization operates as a foundation rather than a commercial company, and its public-facing activity combines research programs, collection management, events and educational engagement.

NAAM was founded in 1998 by the National Government of the former Netherlands Antilles as a successor to AAINA (Archaeologisch-Anthropologisch Instituut Nederlandse Antillen), the Archaeological Anthropological Institute of the Netherlands Antilles. The new foundation inherited AAINA's institutional role in archaeological and anthropological work and expanded its mission to include oral history, community-based heritage work and inclusive storytelling. A national anthropology and archaeology museum in Willemstad, Curaçao, is documented as having opened in 1998, the same year as the foundation's establishment. Its collections comprise numerous pre-Columbian archaeological objects as well as ethnographic objects dating from the late nineteenth century to the present. Over the following decades NAAM developed into what it describes as a leading research and knowledge center in the Dutch Caribbean, bridging past and present through academic inquiry and public engagement. Its thematic focus came to include Caribbean and Curaçaoan history, the legacy of slavery and colonialism, Indigenous and migrant narratives, and cultural landscapes and environmental change, approached through a multidisciplinary combination of archaeology, anthropology, education and policy. Institutionally, NAAM operates as a nonprofit, non-governmental foundation based in Curaçao. Its core tasks are archaeological and anthropological research — from excavations to oral histories — and conservation and heritage management, including stewardship of the national heritage collection of artifacts, documents, photographs, maps and audiovisual materials, supported by modern technologies such as GPS mapping and digital registration. More recently, the foundation has pursued a digital transformation, launching a new website to bring its work, knowledge and heritage collection into a more accessible digital space, with a phased rollout and interactive features planned. Its public-facing activity also includes an events calendar and featured projects, alongside its research and collection-management work.

• 1998

  NAAM Foundation founded by the National Government of the former Netherlands Antilles as successor to AAINA.

• 1998

  National anthropology and archaeology museum in Willemstad, Curaçao, documented as opened.

• NAAM launches a new website as part of its digital transformation journey.

Nonprofit, non-governmental heritage research and knowledge center for Curaçao and the Dutch Caribbean, combining archaeology, anthropology, education and policy.

• National heritage collection

  Artifacts, documents, photographs, maps and audiovisual materials managed with GPS mapping and digital registration.

• Archaeological and anthropological research

  Excavations and oral histories studying daily life, traditions, rituals and migration stories.

• Museum collections and exhibitions

  Pre-Columbian archaeological objects and ethnographic objects from the late nineteenth century to the present.

1. 1National Archaeological – Anthropological Memory Management – Safeguarding our shared memorynaam.cw
2. 2About Naam – National Archaeological – Anthropological Memory Managementnaam.cw
3. 3National Archaeological and Anthropological Memory Management Foundationwikidata.org
4. 4Musée national d'anthropologie archéologique de Curaçaofr.wikipedia.org