THE HAGUE – Today the kick-off meeting of the Ministerial Steering Committee on Slavery Past was held in the Trêveszaal. The steering group is considering the steps that follow Prime Minister Rutte's apology on 19 December.
“Last December I apologized on behalf of the government for the actions of the Dutch State in our slavery past. As said, that moment was a comma, not a full stop. For example, the kick-off meeting of the ministerial steering committee on the history of slavery has just taken place in the Trêveszaal. With this steering committee, we are taking an important step in the process today. And we take all the steps together. We are in talks with civil society organizations. In consultation, listening and with the sole intention of doing justice to the past, healing in the present,” said Rutte afterward.