Using Critical Discourse Analysis, this project will focus on the first official excuses from the Netherlands for excessive violence in Indonesia in the post-proclamation period ’45- ‘49 from the Dutch King and Dutch Prime-Minister that ever took place. Considering the 75 years independence celebration, the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander during a speech at the beginning of an official state visit to Indonesia, unexpectedly gave formal apologies fromthe Netherlands to Indonesia on the 10th of March 2020, for the atrocities and extreme violence committed by the Dutch armed forces in the post-proclamation period 1945-49. Following the outcomes of a large research project towards the excessive violence in Indonesia, presented nearly two years later, the Prime-Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte also gave formal apologies. Multiple (former) leaders voiced their support for the apologies, but many also raised questions; why apologies for something that happened 75 years ago? why only now? The excuses from the Dutch King and Dutch Prime Minister garnered significant media coverage and unleashed a debate in the media, including much resistance. In this project, it is argued that the King exerted power to fast-forward social memory and therewith affecting the Dutch social identity through official apologies to Indonesia. The excuses from the MP Rutte were welcomed more because they addressed Dutch societal needs. The aim of this research is to gain a better understanding of the complexities of this discourse by critically analysing the apology speeches in the wider historical, social and political context.