Two years ago, on June 14, 2023, then-prime minister Mark Rutte boasted that the Netherlands would "fully and without any reservation" recognize Aug. 17, 1945, as the date of Indonesian independence. This was in response to a critical question during a debate in the Dutch House of Representatives on the conclusions of the Dutch government-sponsored joint research project titled independence, decolonization, violence and war in Indonesia, 1945-1950.

Immediately after the debate, a spokesperson on behalf of the prime minister nuanced this statement by alleging that it would have no legal consequences.

In retrospect, it turned out that it was only acknowledged that Sukarno had declared independence on Aug. 17, 1945, and that therefore Indonesia maintains this date as its independence date. It did not constitute any recognition by the Netherlands that Indonesia actually became independent by that date. So it was just wordplay in order to dodge a question.

On April 29, during the festivities celebrating Dutch King's Day in Jakarta, Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Marc Gerritsen presented an old coin from the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to Culture Minister Fadli Zon with glee, as if it were a special favor. Apparently, the antique coin was intended to commemorate the good old days when the Netherlands could still exploit Indonesia unhindered as a resource colony.

Fadli returned the favor kindly by presenting a precious antique kris, an Indonesian symbol of authority and dignity. For a moment, old colonial relations seemed to be reenacted.

However about one month and a half later, on June 11, a different story could be heard than the one told during Kings Day: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto bemoaned during a speech that the Netherlands had managed to plunder approximately US$31 trillion from its Asian resource colony during its more than 300-year rule over what is now called Indonesia.