King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima had to get to their car amid an angry crowd of protesters on Friday. Security had to intervene to get the royal couple to the car safely. The demonstrators drew attention to the Netherlands’ role in South Africa’s slavery past.
The atmosphere of the demonstration was friendly at first, but gradually changed. The banners contain texts such as “You are stealing our culture,” “We were the first,” “We want compensation,” and “You are forgetting us.” On the way to the car, the king was given a traditional bow in his hands.
The demonstrators belong to the Khoisan tribe, the indigenous people of South Africa. They say that in addition to King Willem-Alexander’s apologies, they also want to see action. At the beginning of the visit, the royal couple actually spoke outside with the demonstrators, who were few at the time.
Dutch and South African security guards had to push the demonstrators aside. In the end, the couple got into the car safely and then left for the next part of the official visit.
1:48The royal couple have to get into their car because of angry protesters at the Slavery Museum in Cape Town
The king has apologized
On July 1, the king apologized for past Dutch slavery. “Today I stand before you. As your king and as part of the government, I make this apology today myself,” he said during the national celebration of the end of slavery.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a press statement on Thursday that he acknowledged the king’s apology. “This was an important step towards reconciliation, healing and healing of old wounds.”
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are currently on a three-day state visit to South Africa at the invitation of President Ramaphosa. During the trip, the royal couple will hear about the role the Netherlands played in South Africa’s slavery past.
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