Connect with us

Holland

Dutch King orders investigation into the royals' colonial past

SHARE:

Published

4 years ago

on

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

The Dutch King Willem Alexander has ordered an independent investigation into the role of royal family members in colonial Dutch history, according to the information service of the Dutch government (RVD).

The investigation will be conducted by three Dutch historians and one human rights expert. It is expected to last three years.

The king said that "profound knowledge of history is essential for understanding historical facts and developments, and to see their effect on human beings as clearly and honestly possible".

Later this month, the Dutch government will apologize for its role during slavery in the nation's colonial past. It is expected to spend around €200 million on a fund to promote awareness about the colonial power’s role in slavery. A museum to exhibit slavery is also planned to be opened costing €27 million.

This announcement is in response to the recommendation by an advisory group last year that the government admit that the transatlantic slave trade of the 17th-19th centuries was a crime against humanity.

In a statement earlier this year, the Dutch central bank apologised for its involvement in slavery trade and promised to fund projects that would raise awareness and reduce the negative effects.

From the 17th century to the time that the Netherlands abolished slavery in the 19th, the Dutch played a significant role in the global slave trading.

Advertisement

Surinamese advocacy organizations and others will be reiterating their call for reparations for descendants of enslaved persons in the 150th anniversary celebrations next year.

According to Dutch state data, the Dutch West India Company owned ships that were believed to have transported 600,000 people to slavery over centuries. The Dutch West India Company forced slaves to work in harsh conditions in South America and the Caribbean on plantations.

ABN Amro, a Dutch bank, apologized in April for its similar involvement in the slave trade, plantation slavery, and trade in products that were born in slavery.

Share this article:

Share this:
Related Topics:
EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter. Please see EU Reporter’s full Terms and Conditions of publication for more information EU Reporter embraces artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance journalistic quality, efficiency, and accessibility, while maintaining strict human editorial oversight, ethical standards, and transparency in all AI-assisted content. Please see EU Reporter’s full A.I. Policy for more information.
Advertisement

Trending