Dutch King Expresses Regret for Excessive Violence

Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visited Indonesia to strengthen the tie between the two countries. The monarch also expressed his apology for his country’s excessive violence toward Indonesians in the past.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo (second right) and First Lady Iriana Widodo (left, rear) witness King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands plant a sandalwood tree on Tuesday (10/3/2020) at Bogor Palace, West Java. This is the Dutch king’s first visit to Indonesia since he succeeded the throne following Queen Beatrix’s abdication in 2013, and was intended to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the economy and human resources.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – In a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday (10/3/2020), Dutch King Willem-Alexander reemphasized the Dutch government’s explicit acknowledgment of the Republic of Indonesia’s independence proclamation on 17 Aug. 1945. Furthermore, he also expressed his regret and apology for his country’s excessive violence in the early years of Indonesian independence.

The Dutch launched two military aggressions after Indonesia’s independence proclamation, namely in 1947 and 1948. The military operations led to countless casualties, including civilians.