By Afran Groenewoud and Danja Koeleman
01 July 2023 at 05:00
The pressure on King Willem-Alexander to apologize on Saturday during the annual commemoration of the slavery past is great. What can we expect from the king’s speech 150 years after the abolition of slavery?
It is still unclear whether Willem-Alexander, following the government’s lead, will apologize for the slavery past. The Government Information Service (RVD) keeps tight lips against NU.nl about this.
A spokesperson says that we have to wait for the king to give his speech on Saturday. This takes place in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam, at the National Monument to Slavery Past.
The king himself decides whether or not to apologize. Beforehand, he will discuss the content of his speech with Prime Minister Mark Rutte, because as head of government he is responsible for statements by the king.
Together, the king and prime minister look at what is appropriate and sensible to say. In doing so, they take into account, for example, developments in society and what is going on among the people. Willem-Alexander fully participates in the decision-making process. Contrary to popular belief, he is not a mouthpiece for the government.
Officially, the king has already apologized. In December, Prime Minister Rutte issued these apologies on behalf of the Dutch State. The king is also part of it.
In 2013, Willem-Alexander was also at the National Slavery Commemoration with his wife Máxima. Photo: ANP
But many people really want Willem-Alexander to apologize himself. This is especially true for descendants of enslaved people and residents of former Dutch colonies. They see the king as the symbol of the Dutch State.
In addition, some of them believe that the king should express his apologies at the place(s) where the Netherlands practiced slavery. So not only in Amsterdam’s Oosterpark.
In conversation with NU.nl, the king said in February that those excuses will not be made. Because those apologies have already been offered on behalf of the Dutch State. On the podcast Through the eyes of the king Willem-Alexander reiterated this point of view.
Still, he might have changed his mind. On King’s Day, the king talked to descendants of enslaved people. They told the king that they would consider it “a nice step” if he apologized himself.
Willem-Alexander said that he first wants to wait for the independent investigation. That is the ongoing investigation into the role of the House of Orange-Nassau in colonial history. Last year, the king himself ordered that investigation, which would take three years.
1:37 Play button
More and more residents of the Netherlands support excuses for the slavery past, but about half are still against it. For example because it would be a long time ago. Or because they are not personally to blame.
Rutte endorsed the latter in December. But he also explained in his speech why apologizing is important after all.
According to the cabinet, our country acknowledges with apologies the suffering and resistance of enslaved people and the effect of the slavery past in the present. After that, the inhabitants of the Netherlands and the former colonies can enter a “healing process” together.
But will those excuses come or not? The king himself said that he would first like to wait for the ongoing investigation. But several sources have heard that the king will repeat Rutte’s apologies from December. In this way he comes up with a symbolic gesture.
According to Gert Oostindie, the professor of (post)colonial history who is leading the research into the role of the royal family in the slavery era, there is a good chance that those excuses will be made after all. “If he doesn’t apologize, the disappointment will be great. If he does, it’s probably a lot less big news, because people see it coming.”
In any case, it is certain that Willem-Alexander will look for connection in his speech on Saturday. Whether he apologizes or not.
This is Willem-Alexander’s program during the National Commemoration of Slavery History
After arriving in Amsterdam’s Oosterpark, King Willem-Alexander gets acquainted behind the scenes with the board of the National Institute for the Dutch Slavery History and Legacy (NiNsee). Then he takes his place among the guests.
The memorial will last from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Part of the program is the King’s speech.
Willem-Alexander will be present during the entire programme. He leaves almost immediately afterwards. The RVD says that the king will not talk to the press or the public.
2023-07-01 03:00:00
#king #apologize #slavery #Royal #family
