Government plans for raising awareness of the history of slavery

Government policy priorities for coming to terms with the past

In 2021 the Slavery History Dialogue Group presented the report ‘Chains of the Past’ to the government. In its response to this report, the government announced plans to take action in three areas:

Increasing knowledge and raising awareness about the history of slavery

The government wants to increase people’s knowledge and awareness of the Netherlands’ role in the history of slavery and its effects on society today. This can be achieved by:

• investing in education;
• preserving and further developing museums, archives and cultural heritage;

• establishing a national slavery museum;
• initiating a national research programme to improve our understanding of how the past continues to affect society today.

Acknowledging and commemorating the history of slavery

The government wants people across society to reflect on and commemorate the history of slavery. This can be achieved through:

• a special committee that facilitates annual commemorations in the countries of the Kingdom in accordance with each country’s wishes. 
  The government has provided €8 million in funding for this;
• the Slavery Memorial Year;
• honouring resistance fighters in an appropriate way.

Modern-day effects of the history of slavery and coming to terms with the past

The government will seek to reduce the modern-day effects of slavery. For example, through the following:

• a scheme for community-based initiatives to enable people to make a contribution individually and collectively to learning about, acknowledging and coming to terms with the past;
• strengthening anti-discrimination services;
• giving descendants of enslaved people the option to change slavery-related surnames free of charge.

€200 million in funding

The government will set up a €200 million fund to provide financing for initiatives focusing on the legacy of transatlantic slavery. The funding will be easily accessible and available for a wide range of initiatives.

€100 million will be used to finance the government’s plans. For example, the money will be used to conduct research, enable name changes, preserve cultural heritage and step up efforts to combat discrimination and racism.

The other €100 million will be used to support community-based initiatives so that people can make a contribution individually and collectively to learning about, acknowledging and coming to terms with the past.

History of Slavery Programme newsletter

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