The Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, has called on the Dutch government to apologize for the Dutch historical role in slavery during a July 1st commemoration marking slavery abolition. Mr Aboutaleb expressed his desire to ‘close this dark page’ during an official commemoration in his city of the abolishment, 155 years ago, of slavery in the Dutch colonies.
Until now, the Dutch government has expressed ‘regret’ and ‘sorrow’ about slavery, but no outright apologies. The time has come to make the next step, Mr Aboutaleb suggested. The Minister of the Interior, Kajsa Ollongren, was present but declined to comment. The Dutch Government is said to dread liability. Mr Aboutaleb’s call was met with mixed response in the media.