Dutch royal house helped slave trade to survive, study finds

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. In-depth study also says the royal house made huge profits from the Dutch colonial policies in past centuries. A historical study has found that the Dutch royal house benefited from the country’s colonial policies in past centuries and helped the slave trade to survive. The in-depth study, commissioned by King Willem-Alexander and conducted by Leiden University, showed the House of Orange-Nassau “actively supported Dutch colonialism for centuries, but only rarely determined colonial policy”, according to the university’s statement, published on Friday.

“The involvement of the House of Orange-Nassau was wholehearted and without any real reservations,” Dutch historians and human rights experts concluded after a three-year study looking at the period from 1600 to the present. “The research leaves us in no doubt that the House of Orange shares responsibility for the survival over the centuries of the Dutch slave trade and slavery,” the study said, noting that most of the rulers showed no objections to slavery. King Willem-Alexander said on Friday he was personally affected by the “explicit” conclusions of the study.

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“It is a painful and confronting conclusion. A conclusion that affects me, even though I am three generations removed,” Willem-Alexander said in a speech at the presentation of the research. “We know the effects of colonialism and slavery are still being felt today.

Discrimination and economic exploitation unfortunately happen every day,” he added. The study also showed that the royal family at times profited substantially from the colonial system, mostly from trade in the Dutch East Indies, modern-day Indonesia. In the 19th century, for instance, profits accumulated to about $650m in modern terms, the researchers said.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.