The King Of The Netherlands Apologizes For The Slavery His Country Practiced During Colonial Times

Willem-Alexander spoke at an event on Saturday to mark the 150th anniversary of the liberation of slaves in the former Dutch colonies.

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Published on 07/01/2023 22:00

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The King of the Netherlands Wilem-Alexander, July 1, 2023, in Amsterdam (Netherlands). (SHUTTERSTOCK/SIPA/SIPA)

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands on Saturday (July 1) formally apologized for his country’s involvement in slavery and said he felt “personally and extremely” concerned. “Today I stand before you as a king and a member of the government. Today I apologize to you personally,” said Willem-Alexander to celebrate. The monarch was speaking at an event marking the 150th anniversary of the liberation of slaves in former colonies, seven months after the Dutch leader issued a similar apology.

Thousands of descendants of people enslaved in the former South American colony of Suriname, as well as the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao attended these celebrations. “I feel that deep in my heart and soul,” said the king, adding, “The slave trade and slavery are crimes against humanity.” “Kings of the House of Orange [dont descend le monarque actuel] did nothing to prevent it. Today I apologize for this inaction,” added Willem-Alexander.

Very lucrative colonies for the Dutch crown

Every year commemorations are held in Amsterdam that mark the actual end of slavery in the colonies. This celebration is called “Keti Koti” or “Breaking of the Chains” in Sranantongo, one of the Suriname languages. The commemorations are the first of their kind since the government officially apologized for the Netherlands’ slavery past in December.

Since the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States, the Netherlands has had an often difficult debate about its colonial past, which has made it one of the wealthiest countries in the world. According to a report commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and published in June, the colonies brought in the equivalent of 545 million euros for the royal family between 1675 and 1770, at a time when slavery was widespread.

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