Majority of Dutch MPs against slavery reparations…

The Hague: A Majority of the Members of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament MPs, voted against reparations related to the role of the Netherlands during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. A motion was submitted by MP Joost Eerdmans of the right wing JA21 Party which was passed on October 15, with eighty (80) out of 150 votes in favor of the motion.

The motion was motivated by at least four claims for reparations directed at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations. Eerdmans argued in his proposal that no one who suffered harm from the trans-Atlantic Slave trade is still alive, and therefore called on the government to proceed with reparations. the Motion was supported by the Parliamentary factions of the Party for Freedom (PVV) , People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), Farmers-Citizen Movement  (BBB), christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Reformed Political Party (SGA), and the Forum for Democracy (FvD) and (JA21).

Former Prime Minister Mark Rutter reluctantly made a formal Apology for the Dutch slavery past on the 19th of December 2022. That apology led to several measures by his cabinet to change their surnames for free, posthumously honoring the Curacao resistance hero Tula, and establishing a National Slavery Museum. A fund of 200 Million Euro was set up, intended for raising more knowledge and awareness, commemorating the past and combating contemporary racism.

It’s important to note that Rutter’s Cabinet was adamantly against reparations and its claims. He said, “We are not going to pay reparations, there is no question about that”.  The People in the Countries where slavery took place, such as Suriname and the remaining Islands in the Caribbean forming part of the Kingdom, hold strongly to the opinion that the Netherlands as a former colonial power, should pay some form of reparations or damages to these Countries.
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