The history of slavery is a painful yet important part of our shared history. For a long time, this injustice received little attention, while its impact is still noticeable today. Therefore, a new subsidy scheme for social initiatives related to the trans-Atlantic slavery history will start in August 2025. Foundations can apply for subsidies for projects that contribute to recognition, restoration, and awareness. This scheme is one of the actions following the apologies for the Dutch slavery past.
The regulations for both European Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom have been published today.
In 2023, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations organized discussions and dialogue sessions throughout the Kingdom. Participants discussed how the subsidy scheme should look. These discussions reiterated how the legacy of slavery still causes inequality today, cutting across cultures and communities.
The input from these discussions has been taken into account in drafting the subsidy regulations. An important point was that the scheme must be accessible, even for smaller organizations. Therefore, the application procedure has been deliberately kept simple. To properly inform organizations, information meetings will be organized in both European Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
Cautious Preparation and Implementation
Setting up the scheme required careful consideration. An executing organization with experience in working with subsidy schemes for the involved communities needed to be found. It is now clear that Implementation of Policy, part of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, will execute the scheme.
Minister Uitermark: When it comes to the history of slavery, it is very important to reflect on the past, but also to look forward. I am therefore pleased that we can open the scheme after a period of many discussions and hard work. A scheme that is accessible, has been created together with the community, and for which a lot of time has been taken. It is important that collective awareness arises about the history of slavery, that we reflect on how we deal with it in the present, and work towards a shared future.
Eight Application Rounds with Four Different Subsidies
The first application round starts on August 11, 2025. Foundations can apply for subsidies to strengthen and professionalize their organization. €5,000 for organizations in European Netherlands and USD 10,000 for organizations in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The scheme runs until 2028 and consists of eight application rounds for four different subsidies.
From the second round, foundations can also apply for subsidies for small projects that contribute to:
- gaining a better understanding of the impact of the slavery past and countering its consequences in the present;
- processing the slavery past;
- promoting knowledge and awareness of the slavery past; or
- recognition and commemoration of the slavery past.
Suriname
For Suriname, the scheme is still under preparation. Work is being done to find a local executing partner. The pace and approach will be tailored to the working methods of the Surinamese government.
From Apologies to Action
This subsidy scheme is one of the steps resulting from the apologies for the slavery past, expressed by the cabinet on December 19, 2022. The cabinet then allocated €200 million for initiatives related to recognition, awareness, and restoration. €100 million of this is intended for government measures to stimulate awareness, recognition, and processing. Think of changes in primary and secondary education, more research, museums, and protecting cultural heritage in all involved countries. The other €100 million is for initiatives from society, the money is divided into thirds: one third is allocated for European Netherlands, one third for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, and one third for Suriname.
More Information
More information about the subsidy scheme and the planned information meetings can be found at Subsidy Scheme for Social Initiatives Related to the Trans-Atlantic Slavery Past for European Netherlands | Subsidy and Regulation | Implementation of Policy.
