King’s Day marred by protests, debate on Dutch royals link to colonialism

Anti-royalist protests and a heated debate about the royal family’s involvement in Dutch colonialism and slavery overshadowed the Dutch holiday, as King Willem-Alexander and his family visited Rotterdam on Thursday.

King’s Day is celebrated every year on 27 April, the same day as King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. However, this year, the festivities were accompanied by protests, some of which were decidedly anti-royalist.

“The king is a symbol of inequality. We work very hard to make every level of our society as inclusive as possible, so why not the head of state?” Floris Müller, head of action group Republiek – a group in favour of abolishing the monarchy and turning the Netherlands into a parliamentary democracy – told NOS.

Müller also bemoaned the €4 million that he says was sent for King’s Day, NOS reported.

As part of his tour through Rotterdam, the king also participated in a debate about the royal family’s involvement in Dutch colonialism, particularly slavery, as well as the modern-day consequences it entails. Back in December of last year, the Dutch government had offered its excuses for the role the state played in slavery in the past.

“Opportunity inequality, in the workplace but also just in everyday life. We just notice that quite a lot,” Natasha Slagtand, a Dutch singer of Surinamese descent, said at the debate.

The king even showed a bit of sympathy for her troubles.

“We cannot avoid resolving discrimination in the Netherlands first before we can work together to heal that past,” Willem-Alexander said.

Last year, the king ordered an independent investigation into the royal family’s role in Dutch colonialism, which will be carried out by the University of Leiden for three years.

“We come from difficult times and see difficult times ahead. We have to work on the future together. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what your background is or what your culture is,” the king added.

(Benedikt Stöckl | EURACTIV.com)