Difficult colonial legacy
“You are stealing our culture”: demonstrators harass the Dutch royal couple in South Africa
The Dutch royal couple, Queen Maxima and King Willem Alexander on a state visit, here in Belgium.
© Geert Vanden Wijngaert / DPA
It was actually supposed to be a journey of reconciliation: The Dutch King Wilhelm Alexander apologized in South Africa on behalf of the Netherlands for centuries of slavery. Now the royal couple was harassed by angry demonstrators.
It was only about 150 years ago that the enslavement of people in the Dutch colonies came to an end. On a state visit to The Dutch King Wilhelm Alexander apologized to South Africa on behalf of the Netherlands. Now the royal couple has been harassed by angry protesters.
Dutch royal couple surrounded by demonstrators in South Africa
After visiting a slavery history museum in Cape Town, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima struggled to get through the crowds to their car, Dutch media reported on Friday. On TV pictures It can be seen that security guards had to keep protesters away from the couple.
Centuries of enslavement: “We want compensation”
Around 100 people demonstrated in front of the museum and demanded compensation for the enslavement of their ancestors by Dutch colonial rulers. They shouted “You are stealing our culture” and “We want compensation.”
The king apologized on behalf of the Netherlands in the summer for the centuries-long enslavement of people. It was only 150 years ago that slavery ended in what was then the Dutch colonies.
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had previously accepted the king’s apology. This is “an important step towards reconciliation and healing old wounds.” It was the third and final day of the state visit. Willem-Alexander visited an African country for the first time since becoming king ten years ago.