At least 3.3m people were victims of Dutch enslavement, research claims
Summary
New research shows that at least 3.3 million people were enslaved by the Netherlands during the transatlantic slave trade, much higher than the previously accepted figure of 600,000. This higher figure includes people enslaved in all Dutch colonies and people born into slavery, expanding the time and regions considered.Key Facts
- The commonly cited number of enslaved people linked to Dutch ships is around 600,000.
- A new book by journalist Leendert van der Valk estimates this number to be between 3.3 and 5.3 million.
- The new estimate includes enslaved people in Dutch colonies beyond the transatlantic slave trade, like parts of South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean.
- It also counts Indigenous people enslaved by the Dutch and people born into slavery.
- The timeframe for Dutch enslavement is expanded from 1595 to 1914, instead of the previous 1630 to 1863.
- The research is based on demographic studies and data from Radboud University in the Netherlands.
- Dutch officials, including King Willem-Alexander and former Prime Minister Mark Rutte, previously apologized for the Dutch role in the slave trade using the lower figure.
- Cultural leaders say recognizing the full number of enslaved people helps humanize those affected and challenges old colonial views.
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