King Willem-Alexander apologized for the Netherlands' role in the history of slavery in Amsterdam's Oosterpark on Saturday. The Dutch king gave a speech on the occasion of the National Commemoration of Slavery Past. Although the speech was met with much applause, there were also critical voices who had hoped for more. Members of the Dutch parliament who attended the commemoration of slavery in Amsterdam's Oosterpark were impressed by King Willem-Alexander's speech. Following Prime Minister Mark Rutte in December, the monarch apologized for the Dutch history of slavery.