The historical apologies that King Willem-Alexander made on Saturday for the slavery past were received with joy in Tilburg. During the annual Keti Koti Festival in the city, they watched the king’s speech in Amsterdam. “He even asked for forgiveness, which is a step further than just ‘sorry’,” says Eardly van der Geld.
Van der Geld is the chairman of the foundation Gedeeld Verleden Gezamenlijke Toekomst Tilburg and one of the people behind Keti Koti in Tilburg. This event commemorates and celebrates the abolition of slavery. It is Saturday to the day 150 years ago that slavery was abolished by law in Suriname and the Caribbean islands.
Together they watched King Willem-Alexander’s speech on screens in Tilburg, which made a big impression, according to Van der Geld. “The apologies poured in. I saw a king who was sincere and even asked for forgiveness,” he says. Especially that asking for forgiveness meant the most to everyone. “If you ask for forgiveness, it is also important that you receive an acceptance in return. I think the king already knows our answer.”
“For me, this circle is now complete.”
Van der Geld is happy with Van der Geld’s apologies, but also thinks about the future. “Everyone was waiting for this. For me this circle is now complete, but now we also have to look at the next steps.”
With this, the Tilburger mainly refers to the future generation. “It is very important that schools now do more with the slavery past, so that we continue to make young people aware of this in the future.” This also fits in the vein of his foundation Gedeeld Verleden Gezamenlijke Toekomst Tilburg.
“We really need to take steps now.”
It is committed to increasing knowledge and awareness about the history of enslaved people. “It has been said very clearly that there is a comma after the apology, that means that steps really need to be taken now.”
Van der Geld does set his sights on the future. He will not soon forget this historic day. In fact, according to him, the king’s apologies are more important than those of Prime Minister Rutte a while ago. “That things like this are now being said by the highest authority is very important.”
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