Dutch PM apologizes to Malukan diaspora, unveils monument in Rotterdam

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten apologized on June 21 for the mistreatment of first-generation Malukans who arrived in the Netherlands in 1951, during the unveiling of the Ulu Kora monument on the Lloydkade in Rotterdam. The monument honors the Malukan diaspora at the port where their ships first docked. Jetten expressed regret for inadequate reception, housing, and the unfulfilled longing for home, acknowledging the grief and pain in many families. However, he did not specify further government actions, and some Malukans feel the apology is insufficient without tangible change. This apology is part of a series of historical reckonings by Dutch leadership.