THE HAGUE – A comprehensive study commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Health has concluded that the legacy of transatlantic slavery continues to affect the mental and physical health of descendants of enslaved people, as well as the functioning of the healthcare system in the Netherlands.
The study, conducted by the University of Amsterdam, identifies both direct and indirect pathways through which the slavery past still influences health outcomes today. According to the researchers, these effects are transmitted across generations through trauma, chronic stress, social inequality, and persistent experiences of racism and discrimination. Descendants are often described as being “double burdened,” carrying inherited trauma while also facing present-day exclusion and unequal treatment.
The report highlights that enslaved people were systematically exposed to physical, sexual, and psychological violence for more than two centuries, with medicine and healthcare playing an active role in sustaining the plantation economy. These historical experiences, the researchers argue, continue to shape health behaviors, trust in healthcare institutions, and vulnerability to stress-related illnesses among descendants.
Despite growing public debate about the slavery past, the study finds that scientific knowledge in the Netherlands about its health impacts remains limited. Most international research has been conducted in the United States, leaving a significant knowledge gap in the Dutch and Caribbean context. The authors conclude that acknowledging these health effects is essential for addressing long-standing health inequalities.