The King of the Netherlands Willem-Aleksandr made an official apology for the role of his country in slavery. The corresponding apologies of the monarch were made at the official event dedicated to the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the former colonies of the Netherlands.
“Today I stand here in front of you. As your king and member of the government, I personally apologize. The weight of these words is felt in my heart and soul,” said the king.
According to him, the Orange-Nassau dynasty instructed to conduct a study in order to identify the “role” of the Netherlands in slavery.
Alexander apologized for the obvious inaction in the face of such a crime against humanity.
Earlier in December 2022, official apology for slavery on behalf of the Netherlands government was brought by Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The Netherlands, which established colonial dominance in the coastal regions of South America and Africa, began to engage in slave trade in the “transatlantic” region at the end of the 16th century. In the middle of the 17th century, the country experienced its “golden age” and against this background turned into one of the most important participants in the slave trade between South America and Europe. Officially, slavery in the colonies of the Netherlands was canceled on July 1, 1863.