The Internationale Koloniale en Uitvoerhandel Tentoonstelling (International Colonial and Export Exposition) in Amsterdam in 1883 was the first World Exposition that was overtly colonial and stated this so explicitly in its title. There had been many universal exhibitions in Europe, but so far they represented a wide variety of human production, including science, technology, arts and crafts in general. The title of the Amsterdam exhibition demonstrates how its primary goal was to promote the interests of the Dutch colonies, and how intertwined colonial expansion and economic interests were. From 1 May to 31 October 1883, 28 representatives from the three main groups of Surinamese inhabitants (Carribean Indians, Maroons and Surinam Creoles) were exhibited live with their tools, fishing equipment, huts, hammocks and furniture. A rotunda, a sort of circus tent, was especially built for this purpose and enabled spectators to walk all the way around and observe the group, contemplating the physical difference between the three 'tribes' and of course the difference between these people and their own race. The Surinamese, most of them prominent figures in their native country, were brought here assuming they were honoured guests at this international celebration, and that they would meet King Willem II during their stay in Amsterdam - which never happened. More information about the colonial exhibitions can be found in the book Ethnics and Trade: Photography and the Colonial Exhibitions in Amsterdam, Antwerp and Brussels by Laetitia Dujardin, published by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 2007 and made possible by the Manfred and Hanna Heiting Scholarship for photohistorical research.