Descendants of enslaved people asked King Willem-Alexander on Thursday whether he would apologize for the slavery past on behalf of the royal family. For the time being, Willem-Alexander asks for patience: he first wants to wait for an independent investigation.
On behalf of the government, which also includes Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed an apology on 19 December. The descendants with whom the king spoke during King’s Day in Rotterdam call that “a nice step”.
The descendants of enslaved people look forward to July 1. On that day, the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom is commemorated and celebrated. The hope is that Willem-Alexander, who will be present at this holiday, will also apologize on behalf of the royal family.
“It is an incredibly important point to continue. Where you are also very much looked at. That is the pressing question that we carry with us,” said one of the descendants.
“Nothing sticks to me, but to history”
The king has asked his interlocutors to “be patient”. Independent research is currently being carried out into the ties that the Royal House has in colonial history. “Nothing sticks to me, but to history. I feel responsible for that.”
Willem-Alexander acknowledges that discrimination in the Netherlands is still visible in society. “That needs to be resolved before we can heal the past together.”
2023-04-27 10:24:00
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