Нидерланды рассмотрят запрос Кюрасао на возврат колониальных архивов

WILLEMSTAD, THE HAGUE – The Netherlands will formally consider Curaçao’s request for the return of historical archives from the colonial period, after the Dutch government developed a new policy framework for handling colonial records and restitution requests. Curaçao submitted its request in 2024, seeking the return of the so-called Old Archives of Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba up to 1828, as well as archives concerning the three islands from the period after 1828. The historical documents are currently held by the National Archives of the Netherlands. According to the Dutch government, the records were transferred to the Netherlands at the time because storage conditions there were considered better and the material could be properly catalogued. Until now, the Netherlands had not substantively considered Curaçao’s request because it first wanted to establish a broader policy governing colonial archives and their possible restitution. That framework has now been announced by the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science. Under the new policy, the Netherlands will first investigate the provenance of colonial archives. A formal procedure will then be used to assess requests for their return, while efforts will also be made to further digitize the collections and improve public accessibility. Curaçao’s Request to Be Handled First Curaçao is among the first countries to formally seek the return of colonial records. Indonesia also submitted a restitution request earlier this year. The Netherlands says requests will be considered in the order in which they were received. That means Curaçao’s 2024 application is expected to be handled before Indonesia’s request. For the purposes of the restitution procedure, Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten will be treated in the same way as countries outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands submitting state-to-state requests. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba will also fall under the new arrangement. The Dutch government will begin a broader inventory of colonial state archives during the second half of this year. Formerly colonized countries will be involved in that process and will be given the opportunity to identify collections they believe require further investigation. The Netherlands has allocated €200,000 for the new policy this year. From 2027 onward, €500,000 will be structurally reserved each year for provenance research, restitution procedures and the work of an independent advisory commission.