Conducts research and collects data on the global history of labour, workers, and labour relations

Browse website

Many IISH Posters in South Africa Exhibition Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum will be presenting a major exhibition spotlighting the relationship between South Africa and the Netherlands.Opening on 17 February 2017, “Good Hope. South Africa and The... [News]
Gap in ANC Archives filled by IISH
In the presence of the South African president Jacob Zuma, many other ANC officials and anti-apartheid activists, the archive website of the ANC was launched in Johannesburg on 29 April.Another... [News]
Archival transfers to South Africa
Copies of archival and audio-visual items from the anti-apartheid and southern Africa solidarity collection of the IISH will be transferred to South Africa. The archival transfer project is funded by... [News]
Anti-Apartheid Collection handed over to IISH
On 28 March 2008, the historic collections of the Netherlands institute for Southern Africa (NiZA) were handed over to the International Institute of Social History (IISH) in Amsterdam.In order to... [News]
Documents on Activities
Archival Materials on the Activities in The Netherlands Relating to Nelson Mandela 1980-1990In 2013, through a project funded by the Dutch embassy in Pretoria (Tshwane), a large number of physical... [Section]
Soweto Uprising
The Soweto Uprising is also known as '16 June'.On 16 June 1976 the apartheid police opened fire on youngsters in Soweto protesting against the compulsory use of Afrikaans in South African schools.13-... [Item of the Day]
Militancy Spans Generations
Zulu King Cetshwayo kaMpande conquered the British invaders of his country in the Battle of Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879. The Zulus killed 1300 British troops, Zulu casualties were almost as heavy... [Item of the Day]
Springbok Legion
In December 1941, the South African Springbok Legion arose, initiated by ex-servicemen, not out of ideological imperative, but due to more material concerns. Started as a type of soldiers' trade... [Item of the Day]
Industrial Workers of Africa
The Industrial Workers of Africa was the first African trade union in South Africa.  It was nursed by the International Socialist League (ISL) and explicitly modelled on the Industrial Workers of te... [Item of the Day]
African Scouts and Soldiers
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British and the Boers, Afrikaans-speaking settlers in South Africa. Initially it had been decided not to include '... [Item of the Day]

Pages