The King of the Netherlands on Saturday, July 1, formally apologised for his country’s role in the sl@ve trade, saying he felt “personally and intensely” affected.
Willem-Alexander, who ascended to the throne in 2013, made the apology in a speech in Amsterdam at an annual commemoration of the ab@lition of sl@very in Suriname and the Netherlands’ Caribbean colonies.
The country became a major colonial power after the 17th Century, holding territories across the globe, and Dutch sl@ve traders tr1fficked more than 600,000 people, BBC reports.
“Sl@ve trading and sl@very is recognised as a crime against humanity. The monarchs and rulers of the House of Orange took no steps against it. Sl@very illustrates the injustices of these laws.
Today I’m standing here in front of you as your King and as part of the government. Today I am apologising myself. And I feel the weight of the words in my heart and my soul. Today, I am asking for forgiveness for the crystal-clear lack of action,” he said.
