About half of Dutch people oppose an official apology for the country’s history of slavery.
According to a survey by public broadcaster NOS, 55 percent did not want the Dutch government to apologize for their history of slavery last year, compared to 49 percent this year.
Although the rate of those who want an apology has increased from 31 percent last year to 38 percent this year, it is noteworthy that nearly half of the Dutch do not support the government’s apology.
According to the research, most of those who support an apology are from immigrant backgrounds, two-thirds of Surinamese support an apology.
Armand Zunder, Chairman of the Suriname National Recovery Commission (NRCS), commented on the government’s apology attempt, “This is a one-sided Dutch policy that risks failing.”
Zunder stated that the risk in question was “not accepting the apology”. Emphasizing that the scope of the apology and why it was made should be clearer, Zunder said, “We do not understand and do not approve of this hasty attitude of the Dutch.”
THE NETHERLANDS WILL MAKE OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT ON DECEMBER 19
The Dutch government will issue a formal apology in 8 locations worldwide on December 19 for the country’s history of slavery.
According to the news in the public broadcaster NOS, the government announced that 7 ministers will attend the ceremonies to be held on December 19 on Suriname and the Dutch three islands in the Caribbean and the islands in the former colonial region for the official apology ceremony for the country’s history of slavery.
It was stated that in the regions where the ministers went, Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s apology speeches in The Hague will express the sadness and regret over the country’s history of slavery.
Accordingly, Minister of Law Protection Frank Weerwind’s capital city of Suriname is Parambino, Minister of State for Immigration Van der Burg is Aruba, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Karien van Gennip is Bonaire, Minister of State for Royal Relations Alexandra van Huffelen is Kuraçao. It was noted that Minister of Finance Marnix van Rij will speak at the ceremonies to be held on Sint Eustatius, Minister of State for Welfare and Sports Maarten van Oooijen will speak at the ceremonies in Saba, and Minister of Health Ernst Kuipers on Sint Marteen Island.
In the news, it was pointed out that the official apology at the state level would not give the right to direct compensation to the victims of slavery and their relatives, while it was emphasized that the government would provide 200 million Euros of funding to raise awareness about the history of slavery.
The news also stated that a budget of 27 million euros would be allocated for the establishment of a slavery museum.
In recent years, major cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague, as well as institutions such as the Dutch Central Bank and ABN Amro, have also announced that they have apologized for their role in the history of slavery.
In the Netherlands, 2023 is expected to be declared a “slavery commemoration year” as it marks the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.