King to Receive Major Study into Colonial Role of the House of Orange-Nassau on October 2

THE HAGUE – On October 2, King Willem-Alexander will be presented with the findings of a major independent study into the role of the House of Orange-Nassau in the colonial history of the Netherlands. The research spans the period from 1600 to 2025 and has resulted in five books.

Lead researcher Gert Oostindie will hand over the publications during a ceremony at the Academy Building of Leiden University. Approximately sixty researchers have worked on the project over the past several years.

One of the five books focuses specifically on colonial power, profit and prestige. In addition, a biographical study of the House of Orange from William the Silent to Willem-Alexander will be published, along with a book offering an international comparative perspective on European royal houses and colonialism.

Oostindie also authored the general-audience book Oranje en de Koloniën, 1600–2025. De koloniale geschiedenis van het Huis Oranje-Nassau. An English-language edition will be released simultaneously.

Relevant to the Caribbean Islands

The study is also relevant to Bonaire and the other Caribbean islands. The researchers examined the colonial history of the House of Orange-Nassau in a broad sense. The specific conclusions they draw regarding the Dutch Caribbean colonies, slavery, colonial power and any financial benefit to the House of Orange will not be disclosed until the formal presentation.

The King himself initiated the study in 2022. According to the Government Information Service, the Royal House had no substantive involvement in the design, execution or conclusions of the research.

The researchers were, however, granted access to relevant sources from the private archives of the Royal House, which are managed by the Royal Collections.

Following the presentation of the findings on October 2, King Willem-Alexander will personally respond to the conclusions. The event will be broadcast live on NPO 1 by the NOS.