[imagesource:wikicommons]

The Dutch royals, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, were heckled by a group of protestors while visiting the Slave Lodge building in central Cape Town last week.

Around 100 protesters confronted the royals as they made an official visit to their erstwhile colony’s museum that showcases their country’s 150-year-long involvement in slavery in South Africa.

The scene got a little tense as the couple were escorted to waiting vehicles by security personnel after the protestors called for reparations. The protests included First Nations people wearing traditional animal-skin dress.

This is Willem-Alexander’s first visit to the African continent since he became king 10 years ago, and the frosty reception for the first slavers’ king should perhaps have been expected.

Taking a tour of slavery ground zero, Willem-Alexander and Maxima strolled through the Slave Lodge, which was constructed in 1679, where enslaved men, women, and children were housed under Dutch colonial control. The Dutch colonised the southwest region of South Africa for more than 150 years, and their influence can still be seen in the country today, most notably in the widely used Afrikaans language, which is descended from Dutch.

Khoi princess Belinda Petersen, one of those invited along, said Queen Máxima has a “heart of gold”.

“I welcomed them. I asked them why is Jan van Riebeeck’s statue still here in the Cape and why we must still remember this history, because it makes us completely bitter, and in the Netherlands, Jan van Riebeeck isn’t remembered.”

The Dutch royal couple did not make any speeches during their visit, but in all honesty, what could they possibly say?

🇿🇦🇳🇱#BREAKING: Dutch Royals accosted during Cape Town visit

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima battle their way to their car after an angry crowd gathered near the Slave Lodge museum in #CapeTown, where the Royal pair were on a visit.#RoyalsFamily pic.twitter.com/HToL3uPgXX

— Attentive Media (@AttentiveCEE) October 20, 2023

A First Nations representative who walked with the couple through the building said it could be a good time to “exorcise some ghosts.” In July, Willem-Alexander apologised on behalf of the Netherlands for the centuries-long enslavement of people in Dutch colonies.

European royals are having a hard time with the locals outside of their kingdoms lately. Seems their old ‘subjects’ don’t forget as easily as they might have hoped.

[source:dw]