Netherlands apologises for role in slavery

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has apologised for The Netherlands’ colonial past and role in slavery.

Speaking at The Hague, Mr Rutte called the Netherlands' history “painful, ugly and downright embarrassing”.

More than 600,000 people from Asia and Africa were trafficked by Dutch merchants in the 17th-19th centuries, creating a huge amount of wealth for The Netherlands.

The timing of the apology has been criticised by campaigners, who instead wanted it to take place next year on the 160th anniversary of the Emancipation Act.