A display apparatus (1) comprises a matrix display device (DD) with pixels (10) wherein particles (14) move in a fluid (13) between electrodes (6, 6′, 7). An optical state of the pixels (10) is defined by a value of a drive voltage (VDi) and a duration (Di) of a drive period (TDi) during which the drive voltage (VDi) is present across the pixel (10). A DC-balancing circuit (3) controls the amplitudes of the drive voltages (VDi) and/or durations (Di) of drive periods (TDi) to obtain a substantially zero time-average value (N) across each pixel (10) or across each sub-group of pixels. This control of the amplitude of the drive voltages (VDi) and/or the duration (Di) of the drive periods (TDi) allows minimizing the image retention, without requiring reset pulses causing all pixels (10) to become temporarily white or black. In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, a display device (DD) is used in which a drive voltage (VDi) is supplied to the pixel (10) with a level such that the grey level (or the amount of colorization) does not change anymore after an initial period of time. Now, if applicable, the DC-balancing can be performed by making the duration (Di) of the drive periods (TDi) longer than the initial period of time.