According to the king, Dutch history contains “a lot to be proud of”, he says in the message. “At the same time, it also offers learning material for recognizing mistakes and avoiding them in the future. We cannot rewrite the past. We can try to come to terms with it together. That also applies to the colonial past.”
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According to Willem-Alexander, it makes no sense to condemn and disqualify what has happened through the lens of our time, and the “simply banning” of historical objects and symbols is “not a solution either”. “Instead, a concerted effort is needed that goes deeper and lasts longer. An effort that unites us rather than divides us.”
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For the time being, the Golden Coach will therefore remain standing. “As long as there are people living in the Netherlands who feel the pain of discrimination on a daily basis, the past will still cast its shadow over our time and it will not be over yet,” said the king. According to him, we must continue to listen to each other in order to find a solution. “I know we can do that, even if it’s a long and difficult road. I understand very well everyone’s differing feelings. Only if we take this road to reconciliation together, the Golden Coach can drive again on Prinsjesdag, the day on which we celebrate our democracy and our solidarity as Dutch people.”
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The Gouden Koets has undergone a makeover in recent years and now stands in a glass enclosure in the courtyard of the Amsterdam Museum. The exhibition is on display until the end of February.
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