Netherland's tainted 250-year history of slavery just received apology

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The prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, presented on Monday a formal apology for the Netherlands' 250 years of slavery, calling it a "crime against humanity."

The Dutch government ended its shameful practice about 150 years ago, where it enslaved peoples across different parts of the Global South, including Suriname, Indonesia, and the islands of Aruba, and Curacao. 

At The Hague, Rutte said, "Today on behalf of the Dutch government, I apologise for the past actions of the Dutch state." 

"For centuries, the Dutch state and its representatives have enabled and stimulated slavery and have profited from it."

"It is true that nobody alive today bears any personal guilt for slavery … [however] the Dutch state bears responsibility for the immense suffering that has been done to those that were enslaved and their descendants."

"We, living in the here and now, can only recognise and condemn slavery in the clearest terms as a crime against humanity."

Several ministers have reportedly traveled to seven countries in Latin America within the apology's framework. 

The Dutch Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Sigrid Kaag, said at an official visit to Suriname last week that a "process" would be launched to result in "another incredibly important moment on July 1 next year."

A celebration will then be held by the descendants of Surinamese slaves to commemorate 150 years of liberation. 

Yesterday, our partners and friends in Suriname 🇸🇷 celebrated Keti Koti.

This day, also known as "Day of Freedoms", is celebrated as Emancipation Day in Suriname.

In this video, some Maroon women from Brokopondo are performing a traditional welcome song 🎵 .#KetiKoti @MOFASur pic.twitter.com/yBOCAL94yq

— Canada in Guyana (@CanAmbGuyana) July 2, 2022

However, the entire initiative has been greatly criticized by several groups, with some saying that the move was "rushed" and that the lack of consultation by the Dutch government visibly displayed signs of a colonial attitude. 

Since slavery was abolished in 1873, slavery commemoration groups have argued that an apology should be made on the 150th anniversary of that date, in 2023, instead of the "arbitrary" date of December 19 this year.

During his speech on Monday, Rutte said the timing of the decision was a "complicated matter". 

"There is not one right time for everyone, not one right word for everyone, not one right place for everyone," he said.

In my speech about the role of the Netherlands in the history of slavery I apologised on behalf of the government for the past actions of the Dutch State.

Read the full speech here: https://t.co/mcjkHzCMWr pic.twitter.com/OMtfiP2ulA

— Mark Rutte (@MinPres) December 19, 2022

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Dutch traders trafficked more than 600,000 individuals from Africa and Asia.

In the "New World", which was comprised of colonized lands in the Americas and Caribbean, enslaved men, women, and children were made to labor as household slaves, in mines, and on sugar, coffee, and tobacco plantations. Extreme physical, mental, and sexual abuse was inflicted upon them.

Profits from this grueling labor contributed to the "Golden Age"; a time of economic prosperity in the 17th century when the Netherlands experienced enormous advances in science and culture.

In addition to a formal apology, the Dutch government has vowed to spend €27 million on a slavery museum and €200 million (£175 million) on awareness initiatives.

Read more: Netherlands sets up a $204 M fund for 'reparations on slavery'

On Saturday, Sint Maarten's Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs told Dutch reporters that the island would not approve a Dutch apology if made on Monday.

"Let me be clear that we won't accept an apology until our advisory committee has discussed it and we as a country discussed it," she said.  

Another matter that sparked controversy was Dutch minister Franc Weerwind, himself a descendant of Surinamese slaves, after he was sent to Suriname to act on behalf of the Dutch Government's apology. 

After the Prime Minister's speech, several Dutch cabinet ministers are expected to land in Suriname, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Aruba, Curacao, Saba, and St. Eustatius on Monday to "discuss the cabinet response and its significance on location with those present."

Dutch slavery was officially abolished in 1963, but the practice really ceased to be effected in 1873 after a ten-year transitionary period.

Read more: Potential Dutch slavery apology plan faces backlash