A formal apology by the Dutch government to the tune of €200 million will be made, along with projects to raise awareness of the Netherlands’ past slavery.
The Dutch government will also be setting aside an additional €27 million for a museum on slavery, reports the NOS.
An apology has been in the works for a while
On a recent visit to Suriname, Prime Minister Rutte stated that the next year should be dedicated to acknowledging the Netherlands’ involvement in the slave trade.
The majority of the Tweede Kamer also pushed for a formal apology to be made.
READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #120: Struggle with their colonial past
And even the king agrees! He brought up the subject of an apology on Prinsjesdag — noting that 2023 would commemorate 150 years since the Netherlands abolished slavery.
King Willem-Alexander didn’t hesitate to point out the importance of taking responsibility for this part of Dutch history.
Not everyone thinks it’s necessary
Although the Dutch government’s persecution of Jews and their horrific treatment of Indonesians (following the decolonisation period) have been formally apologised for, slavery hasn’t been directly addressed.
And, whilst the majority seems all for it, some don’t agree with the government’s plan to bring awareness to a dark period in the country’s history.
VVD Minister Van Strien tells the NOS that the money would actually be better spent on the future than the past.
What do you think of the government’s latest move? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
