Apology for the Netherlands’ role in the history of slavery
In a speech on 19 December 2022, Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologised for the past actions of the Dutch State: to enslaved people in the past, everywhere in the world, who suffered as a consequence of those actions, as well as to their daughters and sons, and to all their descendants, up to the present day.
The Prime Minister gave the apology at the National Archives in The Hague, in the presence of representatives of organisations that have pressed for acknowledgement of the effects of slavery.
In Suriname and on Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, members of the government will meet with organisations and authorities to discuss what this apology means in each of those places.
- Letter to Parliament on government response to Slavery History Dialogue Group Advisory Board report (English, Papiamento and Papiamentu)
- Speech by Prime Minister Mark Rutte (English)
- Speech by Prime Minister Mark Rutte (Dutch)
- YouTube: speech Prime Minister Rutte with English subtitles
- YouTube: speech Prime Minister Rutte with Dutch subtitles
- Press release 'Government apologises for the Netherlands’ role in the history of slavery'
- Speech Minister Kuipers (Health, Welfare and Sport) on Sint Maarten (English)
- Speech Minister Van Gennip (Social Affairs and Employment) on Bonaire (Dutch)
- Speech Minister Van der Burg (Migration) on Aruba (Dutch)
- Speech Minister Van Huffelen (Digitalisation) on Curaçao (Dutch)
- Speech State Secretary Van Ooijen (Health, Welfare and Sport) on Saba (English)
- Speech State Secretary Van Rij (Tax Affairs and the Tax Administration) on Sint Eustatius (English)