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Investigation into the colonial role of the Oranges presented

Today, an investigation into the Royal House's involvement in colonialism was presented, highlighting findings from King Willem-Alexander.

2 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Investigation into the colonial role of the Oranges presented — Photo: Entrik & Dinger after J. M. Stalk · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Today, an investigation was presented in Leiden that examines the role of the Royal House, specifically the House of Orange-Nassau, in the colonial history of the Netherlands. This investigation took three years and was carried out at the request of King Willem-Alexander.

The king received the research results during a press conference and described the conclusions as 'painful and confronting.' He referred to the findings as 'unvarnished and poignant' and indicated that they resonated with him.

According to the investigation, the Oranges were 'unequivocally and without hesitation' involved in colonialism. Colonial warfare and oppression were seen by the Royal House as 'inevitable and justified.'

The researchers established that the House of Orange-Nassau supported colonial policies that were based on the idea of European white superiority. The king emphasized the importance of acknowledging this history to build trust for the future.

During the presentation, it was also noted that the Royal House was closely and unscrupulously involved in colonial history and slavery, although it did not play a leading role, according to another statement.

In Utrecht, the Gouden Kalveren awards are also being presented today, the most prestigious film awards in the Netherlands. This event is unrelated to the presented research but is also taking place today.

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