Arrindell attends presentation on Dutch monarchy and colonial history

Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita R. Arrindell attended the presentation at Leiden University of research examining the House of Orange-Nassau’s role in Dutch colonial history. The research team led by Professor Gert Oostindie publicly released the findings of its multi-year project, which was commissioned in 2022 at the initiative of King Willem-Alexander.

The project involved about 60 researchers and examined the relationship between the Dutch monarchy and colonialism from the 17th century to the present. Oostindie said the research found that the House of Orange-Nassau actively supported Dutch colonialism over several centuries while rarely directly shaping colonial policy. The study also found that members of the Royal House generally regarded colonialism as legitimate and beneficial to the Netherlands and did not oppose slavery during much of the colonial period.

King Willem-Alexander described the conclusions as “unvarnished and compelling” and said they were painful and confronting. He accepted the research findings, according to the research presentation.