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Study Finds Dutch Royalty Backed Colonialism, Earned $650M

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 2:46 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

King Willem-Alexander commissioned a Leiden University study that examined Dutch colonial policies from 1600 onward.
Researchers concluded the House of Orange-Nassau actively supported colonialism and shared responsibility for slavery.
The study estimated the royal family earned about $650 million in modern terms from 19th-century East Indies trade.
Researchers found the royal family earned almost nothing from the transatlantic slave trade.
The Dutch government created a €200 million fund after apologizing in 2022.

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Story summary

King Willem-Alexander commissioned a Leiden University study that examined Dutch colonial policies from 1600 onward.
Researchers concluded the House of Orange-Nassau actively supported colonialism and shared responsibility for slavery.
The study estimated the royal family earned about $650 million in modern terms from 19th-century East Indies trade.
Researchers found the royal family earned almost nothing from the transatlantic slave trade.
The Dutch government created a €200 million fund after apologizing in 2022.