The Golden Coach was the symbol on Prinsjesdag for many years, but became controversial because of a side panel. On the side panel, a white woman sits on a throne. Indians and people of African descent submissively bring merchandise. According to experts, an image of ‘colonial submission’.
‘Come to terms’
Last year, King Willem-Alexander already announced in a special video message that the Koets would not return in 2022. “We cannot rewrite the past. We can try to come to terms with it together. That also applies to the colonial past,” said the king. “The Golden Coach will only be able to drive again when the Netherlands is ready for it and that is not the case now.”
‘At least ten years’
According to those involved, the carriage will remain inside this year and that will not change for the time being. This applies ‘certainly for ten years’, according to an insider. According to another source, the idea has also been exchanged in palace circles that the Golden Coach will never even be used again on official occasions.
A spokesperson for the Government Information Service refers to the King’s statement from 2022. “Only if we travel this road to reconciliation together can the Golden Coach drive again on Prince’s Day, the day on which we celebrate our democracy and our solidarity as Dutch people.” in the statement.
“Since then, the king has had a number of background discussions about the colonial past with representatives from society and science about their views on this process of reconciliation. He will continue to do so,” says the Government Information Service.
Commemorative year
In 2023, a special commemoration year of slavery will begin. It is exactly 150 years ago that slavery was ended in the Kingdom. In December, Prime Minister Rutte apologized on behalf of the Dutch government for the slavery past. The king will be present at the official Keti Koti commemoration on July 1, Prime Minister Rutte confirmed last week.
2023-04-19 13:28:04
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