The King of the Netherlands has formally apologised for his country’s role in the slave trade, saying he felt “personally and intensely” affected.
The monarch was speaking during a celebration marking the 160th year since slavery was abolished throughout the nation, including its former possessions in the Caribbean.
It is a component of a broader reckoning with Western colonial histories that has recently been sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement.
He admitted that racism in Dutch society remains a problem, but added that “times have changed and Keti Koti… the chains have truly been broken”.
“Keti Koti” are Surinamese words that mean “the chain is broken”. It is the title given to 1 July as a day of remembrance of slavery and celebration of freedom in the Netherlands.
The Dutch king’s speech follows a similar apology made by the country’s prime minister Mark Rutte in December 2022.
Willem-Alexander referred back to this as he addressed the crowd, saying: “Today I stand before you. Today, as your king and as a member of the government, I make this apology myself. And I feel the weight of the words in my heart and my soul.”
In December, Mr. Rutte recognized that the Dutch state participated in and benefited from the Atlantic slave trade. He has, however, declared that the government will not make the reparations that a panel of advisors suggested be made in 2021.
Willem-Alexander apologised in Indonesia in 2020 for “excessive violence” during Dutch colonial rule. And at the beginning of 2022, he ruled out using the royal family’s golden carriage after claims a painting on it glorified the country’s colonial past.
