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According to the SRF correspondent, the analysis of the role of the Dutch monarchy in the colonial period is groundbreaking.
The Netherlands is confronting its colonial past. Next Monday, the government wants to officially apologize to the former colonies. And the royal family has announced that it will have its own role in the colonial era independently investigated.
SRF News: What do you think of the Dutch royal family’s intention to have its role in the colonial period independently investigated?
Elsbeth Gugger: That’s not a big surprise. Willem-Alexander has been critical of his great-grandmother in the past. He is not afraid to soil his own family’s nest.
The announcement that the role of the Oranje will be examined up to the post-colonial period is a logical continuation of the king’s position.
The announcement that the role of his family, the Oranje – after all, one of the richest families in Europe – would be investigated from the late 16th century to the post-colonial period is a logical continuation of this attitude. Such research fits perfectly into the ongoing debate in the Netherlands.
The Dutch government recently announced that it would apologize to the former colonies on December 19 for the role played by the Netherlands. How is this related?
The king’s announcement didn’t cause very big waves. The apology date, December 19, causes much more excitement. There was an angry reaction to this in Suriname and also in the Antilles. This was not agreed with them and they preferred to have the apology on July 1st, when the abolition of slavery is commemorated. They also didn’t want to hear the apology from the prime minister or a minister, but from the king himself.
Will the Dutch government respond to this request?
no Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said that this is not possible under criminal law.
Hopefully we will know in three years how much the Oranjes benefited from the immense flow of money from the colonies.
Back to the king: What would be the possible consequences of this investigation?
That is hard to say. You have to imagine that the crown and the government were closely intertwined in colonial times. How much the Oranjes benefited from the immense flow of money from the colonies, we will hopefully know in three years’ time, when this investigation will be completed. Then we will also know whether King Willem Alexander wants or has to apologize for it one day.
Will this proactive action by the Dutch crown have an impact on other royal houses in Europe, for example Belgium or Great Britain?
That is hard to say. There are countries that have apologized. Germany, for example, has apologized for the colonial crimes in what is now Namibia, and Italy for those in North Africa. But royal families have a hard time making excuses. The Belgian King Philippe has only expressed his deepest regrets to the Congo. And in Great Britain, too, the Royal Family is apparently not ready to kneel. Who knows whether the investigation that has now been announced in the Netherlands could become groundbreaking for other royal families.
The interview was conducted by Igor Basic.