THE HAGUE – Curaçao's request to recover centuries-old colonial archives currently held in the Netherlands has taken an important step forward following a major policy announcement by the Dutch government on the future handling of colonial-era records.
Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science Rianne Letschert has formally adopted key recommendations from the Dutch Council for Culture regarding archives created during the colonial period. The policy recognizes that many of these records represent a shared history and may have been removed from their countries of origin under unequal colonial circumstances.
For Curaçao, the announcement is particularly significant because the island submitted an official restitution request in 2024 seeking the return of the so-called Old Archives of Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba up to 1828, as well as archives created after 1828. These records are currently housed at the Dutch National Archives in The Hague.
According to the Dutch government, Curaçao's request will be one of the first cases reviewed under a newly established framework for the return of colonial archives. The request will be evaluated by an independent commission of archival experts that is expected to be created later this year.
The Dutch government acknowledged that these archives were originally transferred to the Netherlands because storage and preservation conditions were considered better there at the time. However, the new policy emphasizes that colonial archives are not only legal records but also form part of the cultural memory and historical identity of the countries and communities to which they relate.
Under the new approach, the Netherlands will conduct an extensive inventory of colonial archives under its control and create a publicly accessible overview of records that may qualify for restitution. The process will focus particularly on archives that were transferred without consent or under pressure during the colonial era.
Dutch officials stated that archives determined to have been wrongfully removed will, in principle, be returned to their country of origin following the review process.
The policy also places considerable emphasis on digital accessibility. Even when archives are physically returned, the Netherlands intends to work with recipient countries to ensure that researchers, descendants, and communities across the Kingdom continue to have access to the information contained in the records.
The move forms part of a broader effort by the Dutch government to address the legacy of colonialism and slavery and to support processes of recognition, restoration, and historical justice. The policy specifically mentions Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba as partners in this process.
For Curaçao, the outcome of the restitution request could eventually result in the return of some of the most historically important documents relating to the island's colonial administration, population, economy, and social development.
The Dutch government expects the first phase of the archival inventory to begin in the second half of 2026, while the review of Curaçao's request is expected to proceed once the independent commission and assessment framework have been established.