The gold leaf of the Golden Coach probably comes from a gold mine in Suriname, it turns out from research. The Amsterdam Museum, together with the VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands Institute for Conservation+Art+Science+ and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, has conducted research into the origin of the gold.
The Golden Coach was a gift from the Amsterdam population to Queen Wilhelmina in 1898. The makers wanted the coach to be a reflection of the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands. For example, the wood for the carriage came from Java and ivory from Sumatra. The researchers compared samples of the gold leaf from the coach with gold from former colonies. This showed that the gold corresponds most closely to the gold from a gold mine on the Suriname River, in the Brokopondo region.
In 2015 the restoration of the Golden Coach started. After that, the Gouden Koets was temporarily on display in the Amsterdam Museum. The carriage is controversial, because of the side panel Tribute to the Colonies. It shows a white woman on a throne surrounded by people with dark skin who bow to her. King Willem-Alexander has decided not to use the Golden Coach for the time being after the restoration.
Also read: The Golden Coach: cultural heritage that hurts