The King of the Netherlands on Saturday, July 1, formally apologized for his country’s role in the slave trade, saying he felt “personally & intensely” affected.
Willem-Alexander made the apology in a speech in Amsterdam at an annual commemoration of the abolition of slavery in Suriname & the Netherlands’ Caribbean colonies.
The country became a major colonial power after the 17th Century, holding territories across the globe & Dutch slave traders tr1fficked more than 600,000 people, BBC reports.
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“Slave trading is recognized as a crime against humanity. The monarchs & rulers of the House of Orange took no steps against it.
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.
