News item | 01-07-2025 | 11:37 AM
Slavery past is a painful but important part of our joint history. For a long time this injustice received little attention, while the impact of it is still noticeable. That is why a new subsidy scheme for social initiatives on the transatlantic slavery history will start in August 2025. Foundations can then apply for a subsidy for projects that contribute to recognition, recovery and awareness. This regulation is one of the actions following the apologies for the Dutch slavery past.
The regulations for both the European Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom have been published today.
In 2023, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations organized interviews and dialogue sessions throughout the Kingdom. Among other things, participants talked about what the subsidy scheme should look like. These conversations once again underlined how the effect of slavery past still causes inequality today, right through cultures and communities.
The input from these conversations is included in the preparation of the subsidy schemes. An important point was that the scheme must be accessible, also for smaller organizations. The application procedure was therefore deliberately kept simple. To properly inform organizations, information meetings are being organized in the European Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
Careful preparation and implementation
Setting up the scheme required care. An executive organization had to be found with experience in working with subsidy schemes for the communities involved. It is now clear that the implementation of policy, part of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, will implement the scheme.
Uitermark: “When it comes to slavery past, it is very important to reflect on the past, but also to look ahead. I am therefore happy that we can open the arrangement after a period of many conversations and hard work. A scheme that is accessible, together with the community, has been created together with the community, for which a lot of time has been taken. Dealing in the here and now and working on a joint future ”
Eight application rounds with four different subsidies
The first application round starts on 11 August 2025. Then foundations can apply for a subsidy for strengthening and professionalizing their organization. € 5,000 for organizations in the European Netherlands and USD 10,000 for organizations in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The scheme runs up to and including 2028 and consists of eight application rounds for four different subsidies.
From the second round, foundations can also apply for a subsidy for small projects that contribute to:
- acquiring a better understanding of the effect of slavery past and combating the consequences of the effect of slavery past in the present;
- the processing of slavery past;
- promoting knowledge and awareness about slavery past; or
- The recognition and commemoration of the slavery past.
Suriname
The scheme is still being prepared for Suriname. Work is being done to find a local implementation partner. The pace and the approach are tailored to the working method of the Surinamese government.
From apologies to action
This subsidy scheme is one of the steps arising from the apologies for the slavery past, pronounced by the government on December 19, 2022. The government then made € 200 million available for initiatives on recognition, awareness and recovery. € 100 million of this is intended for government measures to stimulate awareness, recognition and processing. Think of changes in primary and secondary education, more research, museums and protecting cultural heritage in all countries involved. The other € 100 million is for initiatives from society, the money is divided into three: a third party is intended for the European Netherlands, a third for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and a third party for Suriname.
More information
You can find more information about the subsidy scheme and the planned information meetings here.