News item | 22-12-2023 | 2:45 PM
Descendants of enslaved people will be able to change their names free of charge next year. At the proposal of Minister Weerwind for Legal Protection, the Council of Ministers has agreed to send this regulation to the Council of State.
It is one of the actions that the government is taking to create knowledge and awareness of the history of slavery and to contribute to the processing and better understanding of its impact.
Minister Weerwind: “The apologies made earlier for the history of slavery were not a full stop, but a comma. It is up to both the cabinet and society to give further substance to this. The fact that changing the surname for descendants of enslaved people will soon become a lot easier and free of charge is an example of an initiative that fits in well with the apologies that have been made and the next steps that are being taken.”
In the colonial past, enslaved people often did not have a free choice of name, but were given a name. In many cases this was a reference to the (former) slave owner or the plantation on which they worked.
Adults who have such a surname will soon be able to change it for free. The name change now costs €835. In addition, a psychological statement must be submitted stating that the surname is causing inconvenience. That will soon be a thing of the past. In these cases, name change becomes free. A statement that the person concerned is a descendant of an enslaved person is sufficient.
The proposal has been in internet consultation and will now be sent to the Council of State. The Council of State advises the government on proposed legislation and regulations. This is a fixed step in the procedure.