A commission, requested by King Willem-Alexander, has concluded that the House of Orange-Nassau actively and unscrupulously supported colonialism for centuries, benefiting financially but wielding relatively little influence over Dutch colonial policy. The research, spanning five books and encompassing the family’s history, found that members of the royal family consistently viewed colonial warfare and suppression of uprisings as justified and unavoidable. Until the reign of Queen Juliana in 1948, no criticism of colonialism emanated from the royal palaces, nor was a different course advocated. While financially benefiting, the Oranjes were largely not decisive in shaping colonial policy, with exceptions like King Willem I (1813-1840). Researchers found that even without the House of Orange-Nassau, the Netherlands would likely have remained a colonial power. King Willem-Alexander, who funded the study and granted access to royal archives, will receive the findings today at the Academiegebouw in Leiden.