Dutch royal house helped slave trade to survive, study finds
Summary
A study commissioned by King Willem-Alexander found that the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau, supported colonialism and helped the slave trade last for centuries. The study showed the royal family benefited from colonial trade but earned little from the slave trade itself, while acknowledging the lasting effects of colonialism and slavery today.Key Facts
- The House of Orange-Nassau actively supported Dutch colonialism from the 1600s to the present.
- Most royal rulers did not object to slavery and helped the slave trade survive over centuries.
- The royal family profited about $650 million (in today's money) mainly from trade in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia).
- They earned almost nothing directly from the slave trade.
- King Willem-Alexander apologized for his ancestors' lack of action against slavery and colonialism.
- The Dutch government apologized in 2022 for state responsibility in slavery but rejected reparations, creating a fund for social projects instead.
- Anti-racism groups say the government’s fund is not enough and call for more action.
- The study may influence future conversations about reparations and updating Dutch history education.
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