WILLEMSTAD - New historical research reveals that the House of Orange profited significantly from its involvement in the slave trade. This finding further highlights the necessity for the Netherlands to address the issue of reparations and for the king to issue an apology, according to former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles, Suzanne Camelia-Römer, in response to the ANP. 

Camelia-Römer expresses that she is not surprised by the findings of the investigation initiated by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, which was commissioned in response to parliamentary requests. The study demonstrates that, when adjusted for present-day values, the House of Orange gained at least 545 million euros from the Dutch colonies, where slavery was pervasive. 

According to Camelia-Römer, these findings intensify the call for reparations. However, she notes that reparations should be directed towards the state rather than individuals and implemented through comprehensive programs.

The former prime minister emphasizes the importance of allocating funds to education, public health, and the economy. These areas, she argues, continue to bear the impact of colonialism and slavery. Additionally, she suggests facilitating research institutions in former colonies to encourage historical research from a non-European perspective.