Dutch Ambassador in Potocari: Truth, education, and accountability are answer to genocide denial

The Ambassador noted that the Netherlands has undergone its own painful reckoning with its role in the events of July 1995, when Dutch UN peacekeepers failed to prevent the mass killing of more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys in Srebrenica.

“It took several years before our government was ready to face history and acknowledge our specific role in what happened,” van den Dool recalled. “A few years ago, our Minister of Defence came here and apologised on behalf of the Dutch government for the political responsibility we bore as part of the international community, for failing to protect the people from genocide.”

He emphasised that this apology marked a significant moment in his country’s reckoning with its role in Srebrenica.

The ambassador also reminded that the Dutch government had resigned after a national report laid bare the facts surrounding its involvement.

“Since then, we have tried to work closely with our friends here at the Memorial Centre and with the Mothers of Srebrenica, to connect, to understand, but above all, to support them,” he said. “This includes commemoration efforts and, crucially, educational initiatives.”

Van den Dool stressed that the Dutch government views education as a key pillar in preventing the recurrence of such atrocities, especially in the face of rising ethno-religious nationalism, historical revisionism, genocide denial, and the glorification of war criminals.

“We are living in a time when denial, revisionism, and dangerous ideologies are once again on the rise. That is unacceptable. The story of Srebrenica makes it clear: this cannot be allowed,” he said.

This year, seven victims of the Srebrenica genocide will be laid to rest at the Potocari Memorial Centre, where thousands have gathered to honour their memory and reaffirm the commitment to truth, justice, and remembrance.