Dutch cultural influence in Indonesia

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 09/16/2006 8:16 AM  |  Opinion

To start with, the system of colonization is wrong, no country wants to be colonized. However, a certain amount of former Dutch cultural influence might be positive for Indonesia.

From around 1900 the Dutch started a more social policy, the so-called ""ethical policy"", which strived for social housing, medical care and education. Although education in the beginning was only for the more well-to-do, later on many desa (village) schools were opened for the larger community. The result of this schooling was that Dutch culture and mentality were introduced to the indigenous people of Indonesia.

Although enlightened thinking, based on the ideas of the French revolution, was promoted, the Dutch did not implement these ideas in their colonial policy toward the Indonesian people. Naturally, Indonesian nationalism arose in opposition to this Dutch hypocrisy.

In due time Dutch cultural influence became more widespread in Indonesia. While in the Asian way directness is often seen as impolite, in Dutch culture it was promoted, the same with keeping appointments, yes is yes and no is no, and no rubber time. A more strict way of thinking and acting is characteristic of this Dutch culture.

Internal criticism from the Dutch toward their own colonial policy became a hot item with the publication of Max Havelaar by Eduard Douwes Dekker. A second highly critical brochure appeared in 1902 when the lawyer van den Brand published De millioenen van Deli about labor excesses on East Sumatra on the tobacco plantations.

The most famous publication on emancipation was Kartini's Van Duisternis tot Licht (From Darkness to Light), about women's emancipation, against the backdrop of feudal Javanese traditional reactionary culture. Kartini learned her modern way of thinking, among others, from her Dutch friend Abendanon. Kartini was highly inspired by Dutch culture and way of thinking.

Once more I want to stress, that Dutch cultural influence has nothing to do with colonialism, it is a different matter. Nobody wants to be colonized. But the positive values of Dutch cultural influence could be useful for the benefit of this country.

DIRK A. BUISKOOL
Medan, North Sumatra

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