Dutch royal family backed colonial rule from the beginning, study finds
A study involving around 60 researchers finds that the House of Orange-Nassau supported colonial violence, forced labor and slavery, even when its direct political power was limited.
A study led by historian Gert Oostindie at Leiden University in the Netherlands, involving around 60 researchers, has revealed that the Dutch royal family has consistently backed colonial rule, including violent practices, forced labor, and slavery. The research, commissioned by King Willem-Alexander in 2022, found that the House of Orange-Nassau's involvement in colonialism was "wholehearted and without any real reservations," even during periods of limited political power.
Despite not participating in the research process, the royal family did not influence its findings. The study produced five books, including "The Dutch Monarchy and Its Colonial History, 1600-2025," with an Indonesian version set to be published next year. Oostindie emphasized that the family's support for colonialism was not justified by the spirit of the age, as the monarchy profited from colonial exploitation while receiving substantial income from it.
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