Dutch panel survey finds 83% oppose slavery reparations

The study concluded that members of the royal family were involved in colonialism and derived the equivalent of nearly €576 million from it. Jetten said King Willem-Alexander had personally commissioned the research and said its findings could contribute to reconciliation and greater awareness of the colonial past’s lasting effects. He said the research could support education in schools and museums, while government plans include talks with communities and the return of art taken during colonial rule.

NiNsee, the National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy, said the findings should begin a new phase in addressing the country’s slavery past. Director Bianca Groen Gallant said the institute wants talks with the Royal Family and other parties about possible next steps.

Mitchell Esajas, co-founder of The Black Archives and the New Urban Collective, said he would return a royal ribbon awarded to him in 2023. He said the King’s response did not go far enough and that economic and racial inequality continued. Esajas said he welcomed the King’s decision to commission the study and credited Black communities’ activism with bringing attention to the issue.

The RTL panel found 71% of D66 voters opposed reparations, compared with 50% of GroenLinks-PvdA supporters. It also found that 38% of respondents thought too much attention was being paid to the colonial past. Among younger respondents, 24% said too little attention was being given to the issue, compared with 6% of people aged 65 and older.