ROTTERDAM — Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten formally apologized on behalf of the government for the mistreatment of Moluccan soldiers who fought for the Dutch colonial army during a monument unveiling ceremony in Rotterdam.

About 12,500 men from a group of Indonesian islands who served in the Royal Dutch East Indies army came with their families to the Netherlands in 1951. Many of these soldiers were given no choice in their relocation. They believed their stay would be a temporary evacuation after Indonesia achieved independence and hoped for their own Moluccan republic after a six-month period.

During their time in the Netherlands, these soldiers were involuntarily discharged from the army and were banned from working or voting. They were housed in locations that included the former Nazi transit camp Westerbork. The Moluccan community in the Netherlands now numbers 70,000 descendants.

A national monument for the Moluccan soldiers was unveiled on the harbourside in Rotterdam, the city where the last boat of Moluccan soldiers arrived. The monument, which represents the prow of a traditional ship, was crowdfunded and created by artists Jaïr Pattipeilohy and Maurice den Boer.

Jetten acknowledged the historical issues, stating, "For their heartless and dishonourable discharge as soldiers, for their inadequate reception and housing, for being unseen and abandoned, for the unfulfilled longing for home, for the grief and pain in so many Moluccan families." He added, "For this, I offer apologies today on behalf of the Dutch government." He also stated that a forthcoming parliamentary investigation involving the Moluccan community was vital, saying, "It is not only high time, but it is also necessary if we want to move forward."

Fridus Steijlen, a co-author of a recent history of the Moluccan community, said, "An apology should address the paternalistic attitude of the Dutch government at the time, and that it didn't think about how they could go back." Steijlen added, "That's why the pain went on."

Yordi Tahamata, chair of the monument foundation, indicated that the project to create the monument had been a 10-year struggle. "I stand here as the grandson of my grandfathers … part of a generation that came to the Netherlands under military orders and built a life in a strange land, unsure about a future none of them had predicted," Tahamata said. He added, "This is about the right to tell our history and to give it on to new generations." Fred Roos, who was born in Westerbork and lived there for five years, stated his late father was never allowed to work. "This is a loaded moment," Roos said. He added, "Everything was always ready to go back but it never happened."

Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten stated, "It is important that there is recognition of the injustice that was done to you." She said, "They were treated with coldness, their loyalty had a high price and it was often a silent sorrow." Eduard Latuheri, 98, was invited to bless the monument. His grandson, Dennis van Peterson, spoke on his behalf, saying, "He is thankful just to come here." Peterson added, "There's a mixed feeling about an apology." He concluded, "For Grandad, it's the right thing, but the first generation are mostly not here any more – it's too late."

Activism by the descendants of Moluccan families in the 1970s included a school hostage-taking and an armed train hijack, which ended in a raid by Dutch special forces. The Dutch government reached an agreement with the Moluccan community in 1986, which included cultural funding and jobs schemes.