Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema thinks parliament chair Bosma should apologize for slavery

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema thinks it would be "extraordinarily elegant" if the Martin Bosma repeated parliament's view regarding the Dutch apologies for the country's history of slavery. Halsema spoke about Bosma, the chair of the Tweede Kamer, in a City Council committee meeting on Thursday.

"The Kamer advised the prime minister in a letter to apologize on behalf of the government for our role in slavery. Since that is the view of the Tweede Kamer, I would find it extraordinarily elegant if the chair repeats that view of the Kamer again."

Bosma leads the lower house of Parliament and is due to attend the annual commemoration for the abolition of slavery in Amsterdam on July 1. But in his role as a PVV MP, Bosma opposed setting up a fund that was meant to raise awareness of the history of slavery. He called it "slavery drama."

Several organizations asked the Tweede Kamer, the City of Amsterdam, and the National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (NiNsee) to send someone instead of Bosma to the slavery commemoration. The organizations think that Bosma's attendance dishonors the ceremony, considering his past comments.

According to the letter's writers, Bosma has a "reputation of racism." The NiNsee has asked Bosma to reflect on his past comments and make a gesture.

Halsema thinks Bosma will be welcome at the commemoration of the history of slavery because she believes that a distinction should be made between an institution and a person. "This is why the chair should be present as a symbol for the Kamer."

At the same time, the mayor said it was unjustified and painful to find "what has been done to the Black community through statements." She went on to emphasize the great importance that the commemoration on July 1 happens with dignity and respect.

During an earlier meeting, Halsema said that it is essential that the highest body of our country, the parliament, be represented at the national memorials. "I think that you should not make that political," she said at the time. "This time, it will be this chair; next time, it will be the next."

Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologized on behalf of the government for its role in the history of slavery on December 19, 2022. King Willem-Alexander did the same during the slavery commemoration on July 1 in Amsterdam's Oosterpark last year.