In what is being seen as an effort to come to terms with its colonial past, the Dutch government has decided to issue an apology next week for the role they played in 250 years of slavery. This formal apology is set to be issued on December 19 and the government hopes it will redress how the Netherlands exploited more than 600,000 people who worked as slaves in its former colonies.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte at an interaction with the media at the Hague last week said that a “significant moment” on this issue will take place on December 19 this year.