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DutchEastIndies is website dedicated to Dutch Indonesian community.
“Dutch-Indonesian” is the english translation of the Dutch noun ‘Indische Nederlander‘, which is formal term for Indo-European, which is used for people of mixed European and Indonesian heritage. Indonesia used to be a Dutch colony for 350 years and was called ‘The Dutch East-Indies’.
It consisted of a layered society, meaning social status was dependant upon one’s heritage. Indo-Europeans were socially positioned between the white Europeans (mainly Dutch) and the native Indonesian people, due to their mixed blood. Due to politics and social conditions, many Indo-Europeans were forced to leave their motherland, after the official independence of Indonesia in 1949, and few were left behind.
Many Indo settled in The Netherlands. Because many of the Indo-European families could not get used to the Dutch society and climate, a lot of them immigrated to the US (mainly California). Within almost 60 years, the Indo-European society has spread itself over the world, with large concentrations in The Netherlands and the US, and few in Indonesia.
These days, the word Indo in Indonesia does not apply only exclusively for Dutch-Indonesian, but serves as umbrella term for people of mixed European/American/Arab/Far East with Indonesia. The Dutch-Indonesian culture is currently enjoying renaissance over the world. Many 2nd and 3rd generations are getting in contact with each other through internet, rediscovering their root.
This website is aimed to gather all the Dutch Indonesians out there, who are united by the heritage of Dutch-Indonesian.
Please visit the forum as well if you might be looking for family connection from visitor here. Updates and articles could be find in the blog section.
