The Dutch King, Willem-Alexander, expressed his apology on Saturday for the historical involvement of his country in the slave trade. This apology was given during the commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Netherlands and its former colonies.
“Today, I stand before you, not only as your King but also as a member of the government, and I personally apologize. The weight of these words resonates deeply in my heart and soul,” stated Willem-Alexander.
In addition, he acknowledged the personal dimension of this apology by saying, “Slavery and the slave trade are universally recognized as crimes against humanity, and it is regrettable that the Stadholders and Kings of the House of Orange-Nassau took no action to prevent it.”
This statement from the king follows the apology made by the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, in December of last year.
“Though no one alive today bears personal guilt for slavery, the Dutch state assumes responsibility for the immense suffering endured by those who were enslaved and their descendants,” Rutte mentioned, as reported by Reuters.
Reuters reported that Rutte’s apology in December faced some opposition from groups who argued that the king should have given this address on the anniversary of the abolition of slavery, which was observed on Saturday.
The official abolition of slavery in the Netherlands and its former colonies took place in 1863. These colonies included Suriname in South America, as well as the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.
King Willem-Alexander emphasized the importance of remembrance during his speech: “Today, on this day of remembrance, I humbly ask for forgiveness for our clear failure to act against this crime against humanity.”
Furthermore, he acknowledged the ongoing impact of slavery: “The horrendous legacy of slavery lingers with us even today, as its effects are still evident in the racism prevailing in our society.”
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