‘On this day we remember the Dutch history of slavery, I ask forgiveness for this crime against humanity.’ The King of the Netherlands has apologised for his country's role in slavery.
The apology follows Prime Minister Mark Rutte saying sorry on behalf of the Dutch state in September.
The king acknowledged Mr Rutte’s apology, saying ‘a start has been made’, but added there is ‘still a long way to go’. During his speech which was also broadcast live on television, Willem-Alexander asked for forgiveness and said while nothing had been done about slavery for a long time, ‘at some point, one feels the moral duty to act’.Last year Willem-Alexander announced he would no longer use the royal Golden Coach which used to transport him on state occasions because it had images of slavery on its sides.
And Rishi Sunak similarly rejected calls to apologise and offer reparations to victims of the British slave trade and imperialism, saying the attempt to ‘unpick our history’ was not something the government would ‘focus its energy on’.
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