Netherlands to apologize for slave trade

The Dutch government next week is expected to issue a formal apology for the nation’s role in slavery in the Caribbean. Prime Minister Mark Rutte is set to speak Monday in the Netherlands while members of his cabinet give speeches in seven former Dutch colonies. Officials also plan to announce the creation of a 200 million euro fund to promote awareness of the Netherlands’ role in slavery and allocate 27 million euros to open a slavery museum.

What is the history of Dutch colonization? The Dutch became a major player in the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the mid-1600s after overtaking Portuguese fortresses in Africa and plantations in Brazil. The Dutch West India Company became a major part of the slave trade, and a study conducted by Leiden University estimates the nation exploited between 550,000 and 600,000 Africans. July 1, 2023, marks 150 years since the Netherlands abolished slavery in its former colonies.

Dig deeper: Listen to Myrna Brown and Mary Reichard’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about how one man celebrated Juneteenth in the United States by planting seeds.