Learning from the past: A visitor studies an exhibit displayed at the Jakarta Museum explaining the history of the Dutch colonial era in Indonesia. JP/J. Adiguna
Jan 10, p. 7
Many stories of Dutch Indonesians who left Indonesia shortly after Independence are lost in the passage of time. Legend has it that they went to Holland. But some found a second home, or perhaps a third, in the US.
Michael Hillis, a part-time teacher and history buff who resides in Portland, Oregon, estimates there are around 200,000 Dutch Indonesians, or Dutch Indos as they call themselves, living in the United States.
“Not many people in America know about them,” Hillis, who is making a film about the Dutch Indos, told the Sunday Post during a recent research trip to Indonesia.
“They left Indonesia and headed to The Netherlands shortly after Independence. But when they got there, they faced racial issues.”
The Dutch Indos repatriated to Holland between 1945 and the 1960s. But it seemed that Dutch society was not ready for an influx of postwar Eurasians hailing from the former Dutch East Indies colony.
As Eurasians, the Dutch Indos’ physical features vary greatly, with some having blond hair and blue eyes, and others having a dark complexion and black eyes. Many of these were believed to be Hispanic immigrants and so faced racial slurs. (By Tifa Asrianti, Jakarta)
Your comments:
For people interested in knowing more about Dutch-Indo heritage and community in Indonesia, I suggest visiting places like Bandung, Bogor, Malang and Batu. You’ll be amazed that some in the third generation still speak Dutch fluently, while at the same time they are proud of their Indonesian culture.
Helena van der Winden
Jakarta
First of all, thank you Hillis for doing this. I can only imagine that it is a large undertaking. For many in my first generation of Dutch-Indo, we have been told stories both good and bad about our history and the plight of the Dutch-Indo.
My mother lived during the occupation of Indonesia and saw and experienced many great horrors.
My father was a guest of the Japanese Army with many other Dutch citizens recruited to fight the invading army.
Though my parents came from vastly different sides of society, their paths would intersect during the happy time after the war.
Unfortunately, they, like thousands of other families, found themselves in the middle of a revolution that would end up putting them in a cold and less-than-welcoming society.
The story of my family is only unique if you are not a Dutch-Indo. For all of us growing up in America we became Americans. Many have done well. I for one have never forgotten the stories both good and bad told to me about our journey.
Louis
The Netherlands
I am a second-generation Dutch-Indo and I am researching and writing about my family’s roots for the rest of my siblings, totaling six of us. I was born in 1953 in Surabaya. Three of us were born in Indonesia, two in Holland and one in the United States. We came to Los Angeles in 1962. I’m proud to be Dutch-Indo!
Jane van Beers–Heim
McKinleyville, California
Aloha from Hawaii, I’m second-generation Dutch-Indo, born in Alkmaar, Holland. I left Holland at the age of 8 for Concord, California. I have now served in the US Armed Forces for more than 30 years.
I’m proud to be a Dutch-Indo.
Charles L. Pieters
Hawaii
I’m a second-generation Dutch-Indo. I will be 60 this year. I lived in Holland for four years. I saw my dad go through much racism from the Dutch since he was pretty dark.
We moved to Oregon City when I was 11, and there were a total of three Dutch-Indo families living there at the time. I’m still in contact with them today after 40 years of separation.
I believe they still live in Oregon, but my family moved to California in 1992 since we love the warm weather. My wife is American (Italian-French) and we have four boys.
She can cook Indonesian food (thank God) and my kids eat that as well as all kinds of other foods.
They don’t speak Dutch but they know my mom as grandma and they do know their roots because I share it with them. I have three brothers and four sisters all over the United States.
We recently went to Bali for a visit and it was awesome! Yes, I am all for keeping these Indo roots. My mom, 86, shared with me recently that they were the last true Dutch-Indo generation who moved from Holland to the US for a better life, and I thank them for it.
I love all you Dutch-Indo out there. Be proud of who you are because we are a special people!
Ray Van Broekhuizen
California
I’m very glad The Jakarta Post wrote article about this, so we have more exposure of the film project.
Check this link for more information regarding Dutch-Indonesian cultural revival:
http://www.dutcheastindies.web.id.
Calvin
Jakarta
I am very intrigued by your movie. I was born in Jakarta in 1948 went to a private Dutch school (both my parents were of mixed blood: Dutch, Indonesian, Chinese, Okinawan), spoke both Dutch and Indonesian growing up, fled to Holland in 1957 in the middle of winter (November), and because of racial issues/discrimination my parents opted to immigrate to the US in 1961.
My first time back was in 1976, then 1981 and 1994. When the tsunami hit Aceh, I was asked by the Saddleback Church (we have been active members since 1997) to be a tsunami relief coordinator, bringing volunteer teams and distributing funds we collected on the first weekend of January 2005.
My contract ended in February 2006, but my wife felt that we needed to stay, so we started a small handbag factory/training center with 12 women. Today we are able to support 300, all tsunami
survivors.
Roy van Broekhuizen
Irvine, CA
