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The lead researcher says Orange-Nassau rulers up to and including Wilhelmina considered colonialism legitimate, and that criticism did not come from the royal palaces before Juliana.
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A study commissioned by King Willem-Alexander into the House of Orange-Nassau’s colonial history was presented on 2 October. Its lead researcher, Gert Oostindie, said Dutch stadholders, kings and queens up to and including Queen Wilhelmina considered colonialism legitimate and important to the Netherlands. They also regarded colonial wars and the violent suppression of uprisings as unavoidable and justified, he said. [1]
Oostindie said no criticism of colonialism or call for a different policy came from the royal palaces before Queen Juliana. He said the stadholders and King Willem I had shown no opposition to the trade in enslaved people or to slavery. [1]
The project examines the dynasty’s role in Dutch colonial history from 1600 to 2025. Begun in 2023 at the king’s initiative, it involved more than 60 contributors, publisher Boom said. Its publications include three academic works and a book by Oostindie for general readers. [1] [2]
Willem-Alexander described the findings as unvarnished and forceful, and said his family’s failure to offer dissenting leadership was painful and confronting, Reformatorisch Dagblad reported. [1]
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