Dutch prime minister makes historic apology for Netherlands' 'horrific' role in slave trade

Dutch prime minister makes historic apology for Netherlands' 'horrific' role in slave trade 👉 Mark Rutte, who had long resisted making an apology on behalf of the Netherlands, pledged to atone for the slavery

Making a highly anticipated address at the National Archives in The Hague on Monday, Mr Rutte said the Dutch government had made slavery possible for centuries, encouraging, maintaining and benefitting from slavery.

“The book of our shared history has many pages that fill us with bewilderment, horror and deep shame in the 21st century,” he said. “I had thought that it was behind us, but I was wrong,” he said. “Centuries of oppression and exploitation continue to affect us here and now. In racist stereotypes, in discriminatory patterns of exclusion, in social inequality. And to break that, we also have to face the past openly and honestly.”

Mr Rutte also announced some €200m would be provided for projects aimed at raising awareness of the country’s past as a slaving nation, and €27m to develop a museum about slavery.Dutch King Willem-Alexander, who is commissioning an independent study into the role of the royal family in the colonial history of the NetherlandsThe king is expected to speak at the annual Keti Koti commemoration on 1 July, the 150th anniversary of slavery’s effective abolition in the Dutch East Indies.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

i newspaper /  🏆 8. in UK

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Netherlands slavery: Saying sorry leaves Dutch dividedThe Netherlands government is expected to apologise for slavery with a speech by the prime minister.
Read more »

The Netherlands Apologizes for Historical Role in SlaveryDutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologized Monday on behalf of his government for 250 years of slavery.
Read more »

'I headed to the Belfast Christmas Market with £20 and this is what I got'No trip to the Belfast Christmas Market is complete without a plate of Dutch pancakes!
Read more »

Holland to apologise for slaveryTHE NETHERLANDS is set to apologise for slavery and colonialism, but their government hopes to...
Read more »

Police 'formally linking' West Belfast murders of Sean Fox and Mark Hall“The cold-blooded executions of Mark Hall and Sean Fox bear all the hallmarks of dissident republican killings”
Read more »