King Willem-Alexander expressed his belief in the importance of confronting the past, even its darker aspects, following the revelation that his grandfather, Prince Bernhard, held a membership

card for the NSDAP, Adolf Hitler's party.

Speaking before the presentation of the Royal Award for Modern Painting at the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the king acknowledged the significant impact of the news, especially within the Jewish community. He emphasized the necessity of facing history, including its less admirable facets.

The king had previously decided to release the archive up until September 6, 1948, allowing researchers access to letters, documents, and other sources from that period. He opted for transparency, allowing historians to delve into the past.

Confirmation of Prince Bernhard's NSDAP membership card came from the government information service RVD. Historian Flip Maarschakerweerd discovered the card in the prince's private archives after his death in 2004. Despite evidence to the contrary, Prince Bernhard had always denied his Nazi party membership.

The CIDI, representing the Dutch Jewish community, has called for an investigation into the prince's past, while Prime Minister Mark Rutte does not see the need for such an inquiry. Photo by Ministerie van Defensie, Wikimedia commons.