The King of the Netherlands apologizes for the slavery practiced by his country during the colonial era

The King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander issued his official apology on Saturday July 1 for his country’s involvement in slavery, saying he felt “personally and extremely” affected. “Today I stand before you as a king and a member of government. Today I personally apologize to you,” said Willem-Alexander to cheers. The monarch spoke at an event marking 150 years since the liberation of slaves in former colonies, seven months after a similar apology was issued by the Dutch head of government.

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 this deep in my heart and in my soul”said the king, before adding: “The slave trade and slavery are recognized as crimes against humanity”. “Kings of the House of Orange [dont descend le monarque actuel] did nothing to prevent it. Today, I ask forgiveness for this inaction”added Willem-Alexander.

Very lucrative colonies for the Dutch crown

Commemorations marking the actual end of slavery in the colonies take place every year in Amsterdam, a celebration called “Keti Koti”either “break the chains” in Sranantongo, one of the languages ​​of Suriname. The commemorations are the first of their kind since the government issued a formal apology in December for the Netherlands’ slavery past.

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