The King of the Netherlands refused the “Golden Carriage” – RBC

The King of the Netherlands decided to abandon the “Golden Carriage” as a symbol of the colonial past

The King stated that the image on the carriage door was offensive to most people. He acknowledged that it is pointless to deny the historical past, and it “will continue to cast a shadow” on the country as long as there is discrimination.

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands announced that he and other members of the royal family will stop using the traditional “Golden Carriage” made in the 19th century, transmits BBC. The reason was the images adorning the carriage – many perceive them as racist and glorifying the country’s colonial past.

We are talking about a drawing on the doors of the carriage called “Tribute from the Colonies.” It depicts several Fricans and Asians presenting gifts, including cocoa and sugarcane, to a white woman who symbolizes the Netherlands.

A man sits next to the woman, who holds out a book to people: according to the author of the work, the artist Nicholas van der Waay, she is a “gift of civilization” that the Netherlands presented to its colonies.

In his address, Willem-Alexander stated that “Tribute from the Colonies” offended the feelings of most people. At the same time, he acknowledged that it is pointless to deny the country’s historical past, and banning historical objects and symbols will not solve the problem. “As long as people live in the Netherlands who daily feel the burden of discrimination, our past will continue to cast a shadow on us,” the king added.