In an historic visit to an African country, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima marked their first trip to the continent since ascending to the throne a decade ago. Their symbolic visit to Cape Town’s Slave Lodge on Friday, a sombre reminder of Dutch colonialism and the enslavement of thousands of Africans and Asians, has reignited the conversation surrounding apologies and reparations for the past atrocities.
As the Dutch royal couple entered the two-story Slave Lodge with its creaky floors, they encountered representatives of the Khoi and San, indigenous groups who were forcibly displaced by Dutch colonists 350 years ago. These indigenous leaders sought not only acknowledgment but a direct apology and reparations from the Netherlands for the enduring consequences of 150 years of colonialism in South Africa.
‘If we look at the devastation created by Dutch colonialism in this part of the world, I think a very specific apology addressing South Africa can go some distance,’ said Nico Botha, head of a commission for the Khoi and the San, recently established by the South African government.
While King Willem-Alexander adopted an apologetic tone during his three-day visit, he stopped short of issuing a formal apology or restitution. Instead, he emphasised a willingness to listen and learn, recognising the historical legacy of colonialism, abuse of power, and slavery that still casts a shadow over the region.
‘We share a history which, for over a century and a half, was marked by colonialism, abuse of power and slavery,’ he said. ‘Its traces are still visible and tangible in many places.’
The Dutch monarch’s visit mirrors the broader reckoning faced by European monarchs regarding their ancestors’ roles in Africa’s colonial era. Britain’s King Charles III, for instance, is set to travel to Kenya, another former colony, to deepen his understanding of historical injustices and express remorse for the country’s involvement in the slave trade.
The history of Dutch rule in South Africa, spanning from 1652 to 1803, is marked by violence, the displacement of indigenous groups, and the capture and trafficking of thousands of individuals from as far as Indonesia, Madagascar, and Mozambique. The Slave Lodge, operated by the Dutch East India Company on behalf of the Dutch government and royal family, housed 9,000 people in deplorable conditions.
Shanaaz Galant, curator of the slavery exhibit at the museum, emphasises the brutality of the Indian Ocean slave trade, which, though smaller than the Atlantic slave trade, left an indelible mark on the region. Official erasure has created gaps in the historical record, obscuring the identities of those affected.
While the Dutch royals delved into the harrowing stories within the museum, those gathered outside expressed feeling overlooked by the visit. Calls for compensation through projects like hospitals, education, and restitution for mines taken from indigenous communities were vocalised by Princess Dondelaya Damons of the Griqua Royal House. The Dutch royals, committed to an educational tour, listened to these grievances.
Their tour also encompassed visits to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, Freedom Park in Pretoria, and engagement with LGBTQ activists. The royal couple met with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who acknowledged the Dutch apology as a pivotal step toward reconciliation and healing old wounds.
Khoi and San leaders continue to advocate for recognition from the South African government, while a new generation of historians is working to unveil the forgotten history of slavery in South Africa. The divisions within Indigenous groups, who see themselves as distinct from South Africa’s ethnically Black majority, reflect the complex legacy of colonialism and apartheid.
While the Dutch royal apology carries significance, many believe it must be accompanied by tangible actions to address the enduring consequences of colonialism and apartheid, particularly the economic and psychological scars that persist in contemporary South Africa.
