The Dutch slavery past was commemorated on Tuesday, July 1, at the Dutch Slavery Monument in Oosterpark, Amsterdam. Senate Chairman Jan Anthonie Bruijn and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Tom van der Lee laid a wreath on behalf of the States General at the monument by Surinamese artist Erwin de Vries.
The commemoration began with a libation offered by Winti priestess Marian Markelo. This was followed by speeches from among others, caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema, former Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Silveria Jacobs, and chief captain Sylvester Aboikoni on behalf of the Maroon community in the Netherlands. There was also a minute of silence.
On July 1, 1863, the Netherlands passed a law that regulated the abolition of slavery. After a transitional period, the actual abolition of slavery occurred ten years later, in 1873. July 1, 2023 marked 150 years since then. On that day, King Willem-Alexander offered apologies for the Dutch slavery past in his speech. The 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery also marked the start of a year of commemoration with many activities and events reflecting on the history and its impact on the present.
The National Commemoration of the Dutch Slavery Past is organized by NiNsee, which collects, manages, and shares knowledge about the shared history of slavery. In addition to the commemoration, the breaking of the chains was celebrated at the Museumplein in Amsterdam on July 1 during the Keti Koti Festival.