Difficult heritage is a specific form of heritage that depicts and reminds people of past events that affected people, whether these events were caused by natural disasters or were made by human hands. It exists in order to show the harsh reality of the shocking events and to be a reminder and admonition, without any beautification or belittling of the situation. It deals with a disturbing past that individuals may wish to forget. In this work, the difficult heritage of the Netherlands and Flanders will be presented. The focus will be on the one that was created during the Second World War, at the time of colonialism and the slave trade. The Second World War was the biggest tragedy that happened in these regions. During colonialism and the slave trade, the Dutch Empire, which included Flanders, created many consequences in society that are also reflected in today's society. This paper also looks at strategies and initiatives for dealing with difficult heritage. With an overview of the difficult heritage of the Netherlands and Flanders, this paper encourages further research and activities that will contribute to the understanding of difficult heritage and building a better future.