Enslaved people's descendants accept Dutch King's apology in Suriname

In Suriname, the descendants of enslaved people and indigenous communities accepted King Willem-Alexander’s apology for the Netherlands’ history of slavery. They also forgave him, NOS reports.

The Dutch King spoke to a group of descendants during his state visit to Suriname. After the closed-door meeting, Suriname's President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons stressed that Suriname intends to discuss the repair program with the Netherlands in the near future. The Dutch government allocated 66 million euros to this program in 2023. Geerlings-Simons wants Suriname to have a leading role in implementing it.

“I am pleased that the bereaved have spoken out,” Geerlings-Simons said. “There will come a time when we can discuss this further. According to the Surinamese government, the 66 million is not reparations. And I believe the Dutch government also considers it a gesture, if I understand correctly.”

The Netherlands engaged in large-scale slave trade for over two centuries in its Atlantic colonies - Suriname and the Caribbean islands. The Dutch shipped a total of approximately 200,000 Black Africans to Suriname, and forced men, women, and children to work on plantations under appalling conditions. Slavery was abolished in 1863. However, in Suriname, the Netherlands still forced enslaved people to work on the plantations for another ten years.

King Willem-Alexander formally and personally apologized for the Netherlands’ history of slavery on 1 July 2023, also asking for forgiveness. He made it personal because his ancestors profited from and failed to intervene against the system of slavery.

During the meeting between the king and the descendants of enslaved people, Hesdy Ommen, chair of the Federation of Para Plantations, accepted that apology. “I accepted the apology and offered forgiveness on behalf of the leaders. And from here, we must build on what happens next, so what comes after the comma previously placed by the prime minister must happen.”

In that conversation, the King again stressed the importance of the apology. “We are all descendants of those who were involved. I realize that the pain continues for generations,” he said. “This is a moment to listen to you, to what’s going on here. I hope to learn more about what it means to live as descendants of enslaved people.”