De verborgen verhalen van onze Indonesische roots

This episode, filled with family stories, revelations about njiai connections, and the impact of our colonial past, arose from my personal quest for the past that deeply resonates with me because of my Indonesian heritage. Through conversations and street interviews, I gathered family and life stories, which I tried to enhance with historical context. The historical context is based on my own interpretations of literature and sources. I have done my best to present this as carefully and respectfully as possible, without disparaging anyone. Special thanks to everyone who shared their stories with me, and to Reggie Baay, who used his expertise to assess the historical information. 📸 Images & Sources Photo 1000 Foremothers – IGV (Indonesian Genealogical Society) National Archives Njai Dasimah – Public domain (before 1930) Njai and Mr. Van der Velden with child – Wa Fong, KITLV, CC BY 4.0 Group photo of KNIL team – KITLV, Leiden University Libraries (Public domain) Two KNIL soldiers – KITLV (Public domain) Indonesians killed during the police actions – Netherlands Indies Government Information Service, KITLV (Public domain) Victims of the poepoetan, Bali 1906 – H.W. van Weede, KITLV (Public domain) 📚 Glossary Archipelago – A group of islands. Indonesia is often called the largest archipelago in the world. Baboe – A nanny or childminder in colonial society. Batavia – The colonial name of the capital of the Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta). Belanda – Malay/Indonesian word for the Netherlands or Dutchman. Bersiap – The period immediately following the Japanese capitulation (1945), during which Indonesian youths (pemudas) used violence against (Indo-)Europeans and other minorities. Cultivation System (Culture System) – A colonial economic system (1830–1870) in which Indonesian farmers were required to use part of their land for export crops (such as coffee and sugar). Gurkhas – Soldiers from Nepal, sometimes deployed by colonial powers (including the British, but also indirectly in the Dutch East Indies). Half Indo / Half Indonesian – Someone with one parent of Dutch/European descent and one parent of Indonesian descent. Indo – Abbreviation of Indo-European: someone of mixed European (often Dutch) and Indonesian descent. Indonesian – Relating to Indonesia, its people, or culture. Kampong – A village or residential area, often with simple houses. KNIL (Royal Netherlands East Indies Army) – The colonial army of the Netherlands in the Dutch East Indies. Consisted of Dutch, Indo-European, and indigenous soldiers. Colonialism – The system by which countries conquer and govern territories elsewhere in the world, often for economic gain. Menadonese – People from Menado (now Manado) on North Sulawesi. Known for their Christian community and cuisine. Moluccan – Originating from the Moluccas, an archipelago in Indonesia. Many Moluccans came to the Netherlands after independence. Njai – Originally a housekeeper or concubine (often an Indonesian woman) of a European man during the colonial period. Papua New Guinea – A large island east of Indonesia. The western part is Indonesian (Papua), the eastern part is the state of Papua New Guinea. Pemuda – Indonesian word for "youth" or "youth." During the independence struggle, pemudas were fighting youth. Police Actions – Military operations (1947–1949) by the Netherlands in Indonesia during the independence struggle. Slendang (or Selendang) – A long cloth traditionally worn by women in Indonesia, often used to carry a child or as a shoulder scarf. Tempo doeloe – Old Malay for "the good old days," often used to nostalgically refer to the Dutch East Indies. Timorese (Timorese) – From the island of Timor, east of the Indonesian archipelago (shared between Indonesia and East Timor). Tong Tong Fair – Annual Indo festival in The Hague (established in 1959), featuring music, dance, food, lectures, and culture. It is the largest event worldwide dedicated to Indo culture and heritage. Totok – A European of full European descent (i.e., not Indo) who lived in the Dutch East Indies. VOC (United East India Company) – Dutch trading organization (1602–1799) that held great power in Asia, including Indonesia.