The Netherlands debates making July 1 a public holiday

The Dutch government has initiated talks with employers and other parties to determine whether it would be possible to make July 1, otherwise known as Keti Koti or Dag der Vrijheden, a public holiday.

Abolition of slavery in the Netherlands to be recognised with holiday

Keti Koti is a festival in the Netherlands that takes place every year on July 1 to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Dutch Antilles. According to Voorburgs Dagblad, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Judith Uitermark has recognised the importance of making this day a national holiday.

Uitermark confirmed that the Commemoration Committee for Slavery Past is in talks with Dutch employers to see if July 1 can be added to the list of official public holidays in the Netherlands. While the government can make it a national holiday, in a debate on the government’s commitment to the country’s slavery past, Uitermark emphasised that days off are “not legally established, but that employers decide for themselves”, giving examples of some companies that already give their workers the day off on July 1.

Could Keti Koti become a national holiday?

For years, the government has been under increasing pressure to recognise Keti Koti as a national holiday, with Dutch cities supporting the idea after former US President Joe Biden recognised the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the United States as an American holiday.

Political parties D66, GroenLinks-PvdA and DENK, among others, also asked about making the commemoration a holiday more recently. Member of Parliament Stephan van Baarle (DENK) believes the discussions around this have been going on for too long and a decision needs to be made, urging the committee to resolve the matter soon.