About 150 years after the end of slavery in their colonies, the Netherlands apologized for this injustice. Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke of historic crimes in a government statement on Monday in The Hague: "We can recognize slavery in the very clearest terms as a crime against humanity."

The head of government recalled the "immeasurable suffering": "For centuries, Dutch state authority trampled on human dignity in the most abominable way." The government also acknowledges that the consequences are still being felt today. She wants to work together with descendants to work through and alleviate the suffering. "We posthumously apologize to all enslaved people who have suffered from the trafficking worldwide, their daughters and sons and all their descendants to date," Rutte said.

The Prime Minister addressed representatives of descendants of enslaved people. At the same time, seven ministers or state secretaries in the former colonies of Suriname and on six Caribbean islands delivered the government's message personally.

In the run-up to the speech, there had been great resentment among descendants and in the former colonies. Associations felt ignored and wanted King Willem-Alexander to apologize on July 1, 2023. On that day 150 years ago, slavery officially ended in the colonies.

The Netherlands were once one of the largest colonial powers in the world. They enslaved an estimated 600,000 people. "For centuries, the Dutch state and its agents have enabled, encouraged, maintained and benefited from slavery," Rutte said.

As one of the last countries in Europe, the kingdom officially abolished slavery on July 1, 1863. But the people had to continue working on the plantations for another ten years. The historic gesture is a response to a commission report. In July 2021, she recommended that the government officially apologize and fight consequences such as racism.