King Willem-Alexander believes that the Netherlands must continue to work on addressing the consequences of the history of slavery in society. “We are far from finished,” he said on Thursday during a group discussion at the National Congress against Discrimination and Racism in Nieuwegein.
During the session, representatives from various groups and organizations shared experiences with racism and discrimination.
One of the participants in the conversation expressed his appreciation for the apologies that the King made in 2023 for the Netherlands’ history of slavery. The speaker said that such moments “give direction.” But according to him, people in the Netherlands still experience the consequences of that past “in healthcare, education, and the judiciary.”
He asked the King how “the societal middle” can help improve the circumstances. “That is the most important question you are asking now,” Willem-Alexander responded. The King said that finding the answer to that question was one of the main reasons for attending the congress.
The King also shared that his own children have experienced diversity at school and find it “perfectly normal” for people from different backgrounds to live together. He wondered aloud how many generations it will take before everyone thinks that way.
For him, there is “only one kind of person,” said Willem-Alexander. “But everyone is different, fortunately. And it is precisely the recognition of each other’s diversity that can also be an added value.”