Dutch king to retire golden coach with slavery images after racism row

King Willem-Alexander will mothball the controversial carriage that glorifies the Netherlands’ colonial past

Dutch King Willem-Alexander has announced that he is mothballing – at least for now – the royal golden coach which has been embroiled in a racism controversy.

The opulent horse-drawn carriage, called “De Gouden Koets”, has traditionally transported the Dutch monarch to the opening of parliament and other state occasions, but has not been used since 2015.