Suriname and the Netherlands have launched a €66 million fund to support social projects for descendants of enslaved and indigenous peoples – part of a wider effort to confront the lasting legacy of colonial slavery.
The announcement came during this week's three-day visit by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, who arrived in Paramaribo on Sunday. The trip marks 50 years since Suriname gained independence in November 1975.
During a ceremony that same day, community leaders formally accepted the Dutch apology for slavery. The apology was first delivered by the Dutch government in 2022 and repeated by the king in 2023.
"We accept the apology and the request for forgiveness in the full conviction that the king, with a clear conscience, wishes to cooperate in healing and restoration," said Wilgo Ommen, a representative of indigenous communities.
Benin to give nationality to descendants of those deported as slaves
It is the first royal visit in 47 years, in a relationship long strained by political upheaval, coups and shifting diplomatic ties.
Relations between the two countries have been severed twice – first in 1982 during the military rule of Desi Bouterse, and again during his later presidency from 2010 to 2020. Although ties were restored in the late 1980s, mistrust has lingered.
This week’s visit has been framed as a chance to reset. As continental South America's smallest country, with recently discovered offshore oil reserves, Suriname has been seeking more outward-looking cooperation.
'The pain of the past'
Before a closed-door meeting with Surinamese President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons and traditional leaders, King Willem-Alexander took part in a public reconciliation ceremony that included spiritual traditions from Suriname’s communities.
Sitting in a specially prepared chair, he faced an indigenous tribal chief and a Maroon chief – the latter representing the descendants of enslaved Africans who escaped into the interior and built autonomous communities.
France to revisit Haiti’s post-slavery reparations two centuries on
Winti spiritual leaders conducted rituals using rope, cloth, grass and a matta, or mortar. In a symbolic gesture handing previous suffering over to nature, the mortar was placed in a boat and sent down the river.
"This is a moment to come and listen to you, to hear what resonates within you, to learn from you how we can continue to build a future together between Suriname and the Netherlands," he said. "I fully realise that the pain of the past continues for generations, and I feel responsible for my predecessors."
'The issue of reparations'
During the private discussions that followed, the Dutch delegation announced a €66 million fund intended to support social projects for descendants of enslaved people and indigenous communities.
The announcement was delivered on behalf of the king by Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel.
Change on the horizon for the Netherlands’ strained asylum system
While the fund was welcomed, Geerlings-Simons made clear that broader conversations still lie ahead. "The losses suffered are significant. We are not going to discuss this now, but the issue of reparations will have to be addressed one day," she said.
However, she added: "Today, we have the opportunity to take a step towards building a common path... It is not an easy task, but if we work together, as our ancestors have proven, we will move forward through respectful exchanges."
(with newswires)
