Advocates for reparations say Dutch slavery apologies not enough

FILE PHOTO: The Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander gives a speech during the National Remembrance Day of Slavery in the Oosterpark, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, July 1, 2023. Remko de Waal/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

(Reuters) - As the Netherlands marks on Monday 161 years since the abolition of slavery, activists have questioned the sincerity of recent apologies by Dutch authorities given they have not addressed the politically thorny issue of reparations.

In December 2022, then-Prime Minister Mark Rutte acknowledged that the Netherlands bore a responsibility for transatlantic slavery and had profited from it, and apologised.