Netherlands sets up a $204 M fund for 'reparations on slavery'
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The role of the Dutch Empire in global slavery was extensive, including the transportation and sale of hundreds of thousands of captives in both the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean region, and the operation of slave labour in colonies that at various points of time included Northern Brazil, New Amsterdam (now New York), Suriname, South Africa, today’s Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and many other parts of Asia.
The Dutch government intends to apologize for its historic role in the slave trade and establish a fund aimed at implementing projects to inform the public about the consequences of slavery, US media reported on Monday.
The Netherlands plans to officially apologize for its role in slavery in late 2022 or early 2023, Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous sources. After that the government will announce the creation of a fund, the size of which can reach 200 million euros ($203 million), the news agency added.
According to the media outlet, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte intends to visit the former colony of the Netherlands, Suriname, where he will discuss the history of slavery in the country later this week.
The office of the prime minister declined to comment.
In 2021, the mayor of Amsterdam officially apologized for the city's role in the slave trade, with his example being followed by the Central Bank of the Netherlands and one of the country's largest banks, ABN Amro Bank NV in 2022.
