Are the Dutch ashamed of their colonial past? Not nearly enough, if you ask me. I'll explain this opinion in a bit, but first I'd like to address the claim that colonialism isn't a major theme in school textbooks. I don't believe that that is true.

Dutch textbooks

There is a national curriculum for history in the Netherlands. It divides all of history in 10 periods and has defined certain broad 'aspects' which have to be covered for each period. There are three to eight aspects per period, and every period from 1500 onwards has exactly one aspect touching on colonisation:

• Period 5 (1500-1600): The start of European expansion overseas.
• Period 6 (1600-1700): Emergence of early capitalism and the start of a world economy.
• Period 7 (1700-1800): Expansion of European domination, especially in the form of plantation colonies and the related transatlantic slave trade, and the emergency of abolitionism.
• Period 8 (1800-1900): Modern imperialism related to industrialisation.
• Period 9 (1900-1945): Forms of resistance against Western-European imperialism.
• Period 10 (1945-present): The decolonisation which ends western hegemony in the world.

As I said these are broad aspects, and how they are covered will very per textbook/school/teacher - but they must be covered. They're part of the national exam at the end of secondary education.

The aspects for period 5-6-7 will generally be covered by looking at the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC; Dutch East-India Company) and the Geoctroyeerde West-Indische Compagnie (WIC; Dutch West-India Compnay). The textbooks I've used as a teacher (3 different ones) for the VOC mostly emphasize the spice trade and the wealth generated, while only mentioning massacres of local population in passing. For the WIC however, the slave trade is the main topic.

The aspects for period 8-9-10 will generally be covered by looking at the Dutch East Indies. Mistreatment of local population is a topic there, though the various wars (and related war crimes) fought to establish Dutch control across the archipelago are usually barely mentioned. The Indonesian War of Independence is now actually covered as a war in itself (previously, the Dutch would call it a "police action", arguing that it was an internal matter). However, Dutch war crimes in that war are generally covered only briefly, if at all. I've yet to find pictures like this in textbooks.

Dutch attitudes

In general, I think it can be said that Dutch people are, at least at a basic level, aware of their past. The Dutch had a colonial empire, made loads of money with trade, also did some slave trade, and that's that. Not especially proud, but certainly not ashamed. It's over, it's in the past, we've moved on.

I think that's the attitude many Dutch people have regarding this. I also think that that's why the Dutch ought to be a bit more ashamed of their history than they generally are. It's over - for the Dutch. Not necessarily for the descendants of the thousands of people they've bought and sold, or for the families of those they've massacred.

To give a couple of examples: in 2006, then prime-minister Balkenende said in parliament: "Let's be happy with each other. Let's be optimistic. Let's say 'we can do it again'. The VOC mentality." (Video). He later apologised for that statement, but it shows how easy it is for Dutch people to gloss over the history of slave trade and massacres in favour of the positive aspects (for the Dutch) of the trading companies.

Another example is Black Pete, the assistants of the Dutch Santa Claus, Sinterklaas. In recent years there's been opposition from various groups - including descendants of slaves - against this racist imagery, yet many Dutch people don't see what this has to do with slavery or even racism. To them it's just children's holiday and people shouldn't complain.

This is why I think a bit more historical awareness - and indeed shame - would be desirable.