The king: The Netherlands has just begun to confront the legacy of slavery
King Willem-Alexander confirmed that the Netherlands is still at the beginning of the road to address the effects of the legacy of slavery in society, noting that "the work is not yet finished." This came during his participation on Thursday in a group dialogue as part of the National Conference on Combating Discrimination and Racism held in Nieuwegein.
During the session, representatives from various organizations and groups shared their experiences with racism and discrimination. One participant expressed appreciation for the king's apology in 2023 for the history of slavery in the Netherlands, describing that moment as "providing guidance." However, he added that the effects of that past are still tangible in areas such as healthcare, education, and the judiciary.
The speaker asked the king about the role of the "community sector" in improving the situation, with Willem-Alexander describing this question as "the most important at the moment," explaining that researching the answer was one of the main reasons for his attendance at the conference.
The king also shared the experience of his children who learned in a diverse school environment and were accustomed to coexisting with people from different backgrounds, considering it "completely natural." He publicly questioned how many generations must pass before this understanding becomes universal among everyone.
Willem-Alexander emphasized that "there is only one type of human," adding: "But every person is different – fortunately. Acknowledging our diversity is in itself an added value."