The Dutch transatlantic slave trade and colonial legacy have been shrouded in mystery for centuries, with official apologies and historical accounts citing a figure of around 600,000 enslaved individuals. However, new research by investigative journalist Leendert van der Valk claims this number is woefully underestimating the true scale of Dutch enslavement – suggesting that at least 3.3 million people were victims of slavery and colonial exploitation.
The disparity between the two figures has significant implications for our understanding of Dutch history and its ongoing impact on communities around the world. The Netherlands' role in the transatlantic slave trade, as well as its colonisation of various territories across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, has long been a topic of debate among historians.
Van der Valk's book, Forgotten places, Forgotten People – an Atlas of the Dutch History of Slavery, draws on research from Radboud University to calculate the revised number. This includes demographic studies that examine the slave trade in Asia and take into account individuals born into slavery or enslaved through other means within regional contexts.
The scope of Van der Valk's research extends beyond the traditional focus on long-distance slave trade, incorporating countries such as South Africa, India, and Sri Lanka, which were significant Dutch colonies or centres of the slave trade before being taken over by England. The book also advocates for extending the examined period from 1595 to 1914, when Dutch enslavement finally ceased in parts of Indonesia.
While some historians have questioned Van der Valk's 'rough estimate', it is clear that his research challenges the existing historical narrative and raises important questions about the ongoing impact of colonial legacy on communities around the world. The Netherlands' apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, offered three years ago by King Willem-Alexander, may need to be re-evaluated in light of this new information.
Matthias van Rossum, a professor of colonialism at Radboud University and the International Institute of Social History, has confirmed that Van der Valk's calculations are based on ongoing research into Dutch history. Coen van Galen, an associate professor in colonial history at Radboud University, acknowledged the significance of the revised number, stating that it 'provides for a more nuanced understanding of the complex web of colonial relationships and exploitations'.