Dutch apology for involvement in slavery
Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologised for the Dutch involvement in the slave trade during the centuries. Many of the former enslaved communities were present during his speech. Photo ANP, Robin van Lonkhuijsen
Western Europe
The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has expressed an excuse for the Low Countries’ contribution to the history of slavery.
In a long-awaited speech on Monday afternoon, Mr Rutte said the involvement of the Dutch state was “painful and shameful”. For centuries, the Dutch state has profited from this, he stated. “Today, I apologise,” Rutte said in several languages.
In the three centuries until 1814, no less than 600,000 enslaved people were transported from Africa to the West, mostly Suriname. “All that has consequences in many lives here and now.” According to Mr Rutte, the communities that have grown from the former slaves are still object of “exclusion and social inequality.”
In his speech, he summarised the Dutch contribution as a “crime against humanity” that caused “immeasurable suffering”.
The Dutch government leader spoke in the Dutch National Archive, where much of the history of slavery is collected in the archives. Rutte said that other ministers would bring the same message in seven countries overseas.
He said he has had his “personal journey” with the excuse. In the past, he thought that “slavery was history” for which he could not take “personal responsibility”. But later, he discovered that the consequences prove that “it is not over.”
Comma
The Prime Minister said his apology was no point but a comma. On July 1st 2023, the Dutch King Willem Alexander will be at the Amsterdam commemoration. In the meantime, the government should stimulate dialogue and reflection. There will also come a fund for this.
There has been an emotional debate about the apology in the past weeks. From the community of the former slaves, several demands were not met. Even the First Minister of the former Dutch colony Sint Maarten said this weekend in the media: “Let me be clear, we won’t accept this apology.”
Directly after Mr Rutte’s speech, the first responses were positive. On the other hand, some reactions were reserved because it is unclear who will profit from the new fund and what the next steps will be.
