State secretary Alexandra van Huffelen: “Today is a very special, historical day which we are commemorating. A day which we are marking

July first, 1863., On this day, 160 years ago, slavery was abolished.
The history of slavery is a history of pain, of suffering and injustice, but also a story of courage, resistance, fighting for what’s right. It is this resistance that has ultimately led to abolishing this dehumanizing system.Over the past 1.5 years, I have talked to dozens of people in the Caribbean part and European part of our Kingdom.

Elderly people, young people, descendants, people who relate to this history in their own unique ways. But what they have in common, is that this past is still so tangible.
That the past still has an effect, is still felt. Felt in sadness about what previous generations had to endure. Felt in a sense of being different, being less or being perceived as such. In feeling disadvantaged, a second-rate citizen in the Kingdom.

It is our responsibility to fix all of this, and do so within this generation.
So the coming year, we are going to shine a light on these underexposed parts of our history. And we are doing this together.

We are going to organize gatherings which bring people together, give them a chance to meet each other and engage in conversation and discussion.
And it won’t all be about words alone. We are also going to create these places that make the past tangible, that bring us eye to eye with it. I hope the Slavery Memorial Year will bring everyone in the Kingdom closer together. Together, we will bring about more knowledge, attention and more respect.