The Dutch king, Willem-Alexander, has vowed not to shy away from the topic of slavery during a historic visit to former colony Suriname. The king and Queen Máxima arrived in Paramaribo on Sunday for the first royal visit in nearly five decades, a week after the country marked 50 years of independence from the Netherlands.
Speaking on Monday, the king said he was eager to engage in dialogue with descendants of enslaved people and Indigenous communities, acknowledging the painful legacy of slavery. The practice was formally abolished in Suriname on 1 July 1863, but only ended after a ten-year transition period in 1873. The Netherlands shipped about 600,000 Africans as part of the slave trade during its 16th and 17th century golden age.
Willem-Alexander met with President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, who now leads the party of former dictator Desi Bouterse. Diplomatic relations have been strained under Bouterse's rule. The king emphasised building a common future based on equality and mutual respect, while recognising the shared past.
The Netherlands issued an official apology for slavery in December 2022 under then-prime minister Mark Rutte, followed by a royal apology the next year. However, a group of Afro-Surinamese people criticised the royal programme for not including a wreath-laying at a monument celebrating abolition.
A 2023 study revealed the Dutch royal family earned €545 million ($632 million) from colonies where slavery was widespread between 1675 and 1770. The king's ancestors were among the biggest beneficiaries. In 2022, Willem-Alexander announced he would no longer use the royal golden coach, which features images of slavery.
