Amsterdam has apologized for Slavery, will the Dutch Government follow? 

A Panel advises Dutch Government to apologize for Slavery

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema apologized for the city's involvement in the Dutch slave trade during a national event commemorating the abolition of slavery in the Dutch Antilles and Suriname. As other Dutch towns contemplate following suit, the government is under increasing pressure to acknowledge and apologize for the Netherlands' involvement in slavery.

A Dutch advisory group has advised the government to recognize that the transatlantic slave trade from the 17th to the 19th centuries constituted crimes against humanity and to apologize for the Dutch involvement. The non-binding independent panel was established in response to demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, an African-American in police custody in the United States. It observed that the Dutch had a limited understanding of their country's colonial history and suggested that it be taught in schools. Following Floyd's assassination last year, Prime Minister Mark Rutte recognized that racism and prejudice existed in the Netherlands as well, and his government aided in the establishment of the independent commission. However, as he grapples with the difficult job of reconciling the Dutch population's polarized views, he said that his administration would not apologize for slavery since it was not his position to pronounce judgment on Dutch history and would further split opinion.

Around 50% of Dutch individuals of Surinamese or Antillean heritage reported being discriminated against in 2018, according to data released by the country's Central Bureau for Statistics.

Sources:

• “Panel Advises Dutch Government to Apologise for Slavery” (ReutersJuly 1, 2021) <https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/panel-advises-dutch-government-apologise-slavery-2021-07-01/> accessed July 2, 2021