Dutch royal house earned nearly half a billion from slavery

The Dutch royal family, known as the House of Orange-Nassau, reportedly earned an estimated €576 million from slavery, primarily in the former Dutch East Indies, according to a comprehensive investigation. The inquiry, commissioned by King Willem-Alexander, analyzed royal archives and was completed by a team of 60 researchers over nearly four years.

Lead researcher Gert Oostindie stated during the presentation of the five-volume report to King Willem-Alexander that the monarchs, including all stadtholders and kings up to Wilhelmina, believed colonialism was legitimate and crucial for the Netherlands. The investigation revealed that the royals earned a substantial sum from slavery due to their political influence, though not directly from the transatlantic slave trade, which yielded minimal returns.

Only King William I, who ruled from 1813 to 1840, had a significant impact on colonial slavery, with earlier leaders delegating decisions to the States General or the Dutch East India Company. Following the completion of the study, King Willem-Alexander formally apologized for the Netherlands' involvement in slavery during an annual commemoration for its abolition, and he subsequently ceased using a ceremonial golden coach adorned with colonial imagery.

The research aligns with a 2023 home affairs ministry report, which also found the monarchy's connection to slavery.