Golden Carriage to museum: ‘step in the right direction’ or ‘win drammers’?

One finds it racist and a glorification of the colonial past, while the other sees the carriage as a national symbol that belongs to a tradition that must be preserved.

“We respect the king’s decision,” says Pieter Verhoeve, chairman of the Royal Association of Orange Associations. “But to say now that it should never take to the streets again, it does not have to come that far in our opinion.”

‘Rutte allows himself to be blackmailed’

Verhoeve, also SGP mayor of Gouda, emphasizes that the carriage is part of the collective memory. He thinks it is better to explain why the vehicle was made that way, instead of not using it anymore. “In Noordeinde Palace there is an Indian room, a gift from the colonies. We will not tear that out, so where do you draw the line?”

Martin Bos, Zeeland Member of Parliament for Forum for Democracy, says on Twitter that he is strongly against the decision. “The pusher did it.” PVV leader Wilders agrees: “Rutte allows himself to be blackmailed again by left-wing anti-racism terror.”

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