Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologized on Monday for his country's role in the transatlantic slave trade, making the Netherlands one of few European countries to formally acknowledge its slaveholding past.
"Today, I apologize," Rutte said during a speech in The Hauge. "For centuries under Dutch state authority, human dignity was violated in the most horrific way possible. Successive Dutch governments after 1863 failed to adequately see and acknowledge that our slavery past continued to have negative effects and still does. For that, I offer the apologies of the Dutch government."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Is the royal family a security risk?A Chinese spy's access to Prince Andrew has raised questions about Chinese influence in the UK
-
Assad's future life in exileThe Explainer What lies ahead for the former Syrian dictator, now he's fled to Russia?
-
The best panettones for ChristmasThe Week Recommends Supermarkets are embracing novel flavour combinations as sales of the festive Italian sweet bread soar
-
10 things you need to know today: December 17, 2023Daily Briefing Putin rejects Biden's claim that Russia will attack NATO, Israel ramps up bombardments of Gaza overnight, and more
-
10 things you need to know today: December 9, 2023Daily Briefing Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocks woman from receiving abortion, European Union reaches world-first deal on AI regulations, and more
-
10 things you need to know today: October 1, 2023Daily Briefing Government shutdown avoided as Congress passes temporary funding bill, Supreme Court to begin new term as major cases await, and more
-
10 things you need to know today: September 30, 2023Daily Briefing Government shutdown looms after failed House vote, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein dies at 90, and more
-
10 things you need to know today: September 24, 2023Daily Briefing Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenian population to leave region amid fears of persecution, Atlantic coast remains under flood warnings from Ophelia, and more
-
10 things you need to know today: September 23, 2023Daily Briefing Sen. Bob Menendez rejects calls to resign following indictment, Ukraine launches missile attack on occupied Crimean city, and more
-
10 things you need to know today: September 17, 2023Daily Briefing Texas AG Ken Paxton acquitted in impeachment trial, Kim Jong Un returning to North Korea after rare foreign trip to Russia, and more
-
10 things you need to know today: September 10, 2023Daily Briefing Aftershock strikes Morocco as death toll rises, approval of new Covid shots likely coming within days, and more
