"During their three-day visit, we will not shy away from history, nor from its painful elements, such as slavery, Willem-Alexander said on Monday. The king and queen's visit is the first by members of the Dutch royal family in nearly five decades. Slavery was formally abolished in Suriname and other Dutch-held lands on 1 July, 1863, but only ended in 1873 after a 10-year transition period."
"The Dutch funded their golden age of empire and culture in the 16th and 17th centuries by shipping about 600,000 Africans as part of the slave trade, mostly to South America and the Caribbean. At a meeting on Monday with the Surinamese president, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, the king said he was aware of how deeply this resonates with the descendants of enslaved people and Indigenous communities. We are eager to engage in dialogue with them."
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visited Paramaribo, Suriname, a week after its 50th independence anniversary, pledging to address slavery and painful history during a three-day visit. The visit is the first by Dutch royals in nearly five decades. Slavery in Suriname was formally abolished on 1 July 1863 and fully ended in 1873 after a 10-year transition. The Netherlands transported about 600,000 Africans during the 16th–17th-century slave trade. The king acknowledged the resonance with descendants of enslaved people and Indigenous communities, expressed eagerness for dialogue, noted a 2022 Dutch apology, and signaled intent to deepen ties based on equality.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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