This is FAQ (frequently asked question) page, still in construction and will be constantly updated.
What does Indo mean?
While Indo originally refers “Dutch-Indonesian” (Indo-Belanda), these days, the meaning has deviated from its original purpose:
- “Indo” these days in Indonesia refers to Western-Indonesian mixed people who are not exclusively european, but anything from other continent such as Arab, Japan, India, American, will simply be defined as “Indo” alone. The mass media in Indonesia refers all mixed heritage people as “Indo”.
- Indo refers to people who have Eurasian look (like in the sentence “look at that child he looks so indo!”). Indo is umbrella term for anything mixed heritage that outside Indonesia. In other hand, Chinese-Indonesian are rarely called Indo, because they are considered local ethnicities (Tionghoa), but in several occassion, you might hear “Indo-Chinese” to refer the Chinese-Indonesian, which also politically incorrect because Indochina refers to the French Indochina.
- Indonesian who live outside Indonesia will usually call themselves “Indo”, not because they refer the Dutch-Indonesian, but to shorten the name “Indonesian”. Asian people tend to shorten long name.
- “Indo” is probably used because back then most of Eurasian in Dutch East Indies was Dutch-Indonesian, though it might be oversimplification. Many european immigrants consisted of French, Belgian, German, etc. With rapid globalization and increase rate of interracial marriage between Western and Asian people, the Indo is eventually used to refer these mixed heritage people.
There are still no general consensus because lack of study and academic literature of Dutch-Indonesian people in Indonesia.
Was “Indo” actually only term used by the people themselves? Was it ever recognized as distinguishable ethnicity (such as Jewish, Javanese, Chinese, etc) during Dutch East Indies, or they were all officially recognized as “Dutch”?
Bianca Dias-Halpert answered:
Historically, there has been an affinity between Indos and Chinese-Indonesians during colonial times. In fact Chinese and Arab traders interfaced with Indonesia long before any Europeans set foot on their islands. They were both given a certain status that was just slightly above the natives; the Chinese were used by the Dutch as the money handlers and the Indos were used as a buffer between the Dutch and the natives.
Hence, both were “useful” to the ruling Dutch. Both were marginalized in society and never quite attained the same socioeconomic status as a pure Dutchman.
However, they were given certain privileges and status which ultimately built resentment by the native Indonesians which became full blown during the Bersiap period. It was the Dutch that introduced opium to the Chinese as they noticed how it affected them.
It is not surprising to meet an Indo who has some Chinese ancestry in the family lore. This concept of Indos being Dutch stems from the fact that Dutch men in the Indies made a lot of babies with the natives to the point where they could not deny their parentage and the officials finally told these guys, you have to claim them as a citizen of the Netherlands – officially recognized as Dutch (on paper).
Before that, they were illegitimate offspring and absorbed into the kampongs eventually blending with the native population.
Indos were recognized as a specific class/group/ethnicity otherwise they would have been able to climb the socioeconomic ladder as any
Dutchman and rise in the ranks, but they could only go beyond a middle manager type, an administrative civil service clerk. But we have to consider the context our grandparents, parents grew up in – it was an apartite system segregated by class, economics, skin color, ethnicity. Everyone had their place and their station in society. The mentality was to be as Dutch as possible because they were the rulers, they held the power.
What is Bersiap?
Bersiap is a violent period that occurred between September 1945 to January 1946. Many Indo died in this event, and brought trauma to most of third and second generation. The atrocities never mentioned in Indonesian history books, and there is yet comperhensive study to measure the number of victims from Dutch-Indonesian side. See this information in English Wikipedia, the Indonesian doesn’t cover the part where Sutomo declared total war to Dutch and commanding violence to Indo people.
“With this declaration we order all Indonesians to find their own enemy Dutch, Indo or Ambonese.”
“Torture them to death, destroy those bloodhounds of colonialism to the root. [...] The immortal spirits of your ancestors demand of you: revenge, bloody revenge!”
-Sutomo, 14 October 1945-
Hans Meijer, from the book ‘In Indie geworteld, de Geschiedenis van Indische Nederlanders, de twintigste eeuw.’
Additional note: Hans Meijer apparently cited this from “Haagse Post” 4 December 1954, a dutch weekly magazine. There is almost no mention of this event other than this magazine.
The book Revolutie in Soerabaja by Willy Meelhuijsen mentioned such oration at page 129. He wrote that the first radio speech was at 13 october 1945. His second speech was 15 October in the evening, this source too, doesn’t mention anything about killing civilians. Bung Tomo was recognized as Indonesian National Heroe as November 2008.
Who are the prominent Indo figure?
See this list in wikipedia.
I don’t speak Dutch, let alone Indonesia, could I still call myself Indo?
Well you are not alone, actually most of third generations lost their ancestor language! This is the most common phenomena in US, Canada, and Indonesia, and english-speaking countries. Once you are Indo, you are in Indo. You could learn Dutch anytime in the future if you want to reclaim your heritage.
I don’t have Eurasian appearance. I look more western/asian, how could I call myself Indo?
Don’t be misled by “Eurasian Beauty Myth”. Sure, there are a lot Eurasian celebrities in the market, but remember: they are celebrities, they are not true representative of common people. Would you promote your product/film with decent people? You will look for the most unique and appealing to most of audiances right? Don’t ever think you need to have some exotic appearances to be accepted as Indo.
In the Dutch East Indies, the mentality was to be as Dutch as possible. It was common that the Indo hid their native background to be seen as European. This was changed during Japanese occupation where the Japanese put the Asian on the top and the Indo had to hide their European blood.
Is there any forum to meet other Indo people?
The Dutch-Indonesian Community at Facebook is probably the best place to meet Indo people and sharing your family stories.
How could I track my family tree?
The Ancestry.com is probably the best place to check out (if you are American). If you are Netherlands/Indonesian citizen, try SIFA.
Is there book you could recommend to understand Indo history better?
Jean Taylor Gelman’s Social World of Batavia is probably the most complete, comperhensive, all-in-one source material that describes the life of Indo people since the arrival of Dutch to the the turbulent period of Indonesia’s struggle for Independence. This book is very readable and highly recommended.
Is there any Indo left in Indonesia?
There are few Indo people in Indonesia, these are the people who was left behind from migration program, or simply decided to take Indonesian nationality. They blended and assimilated into Indonesian community, and eventually the culture might be doomed to cease because most don’t speak Dutch anymore. Unlike Chinese Indonesian, “Indo” is not recognized as unique ethnicity in Indonesia.
Is it true that the Dutch colonial government established caste in Dutch East Indies?
According to several sources, the caste roughly constructed as follows:
- In the highest level is the Totok, the pure-blood Dutch who born in Netherlands.
- At the second level, there is Creole people, pure-blooded Dutch who was born in Batavia
- At the third level, the Indo people, mixed heritage of Dutch-Indonesian
- At the fourth level the oriental, this consists of Arabic and Chinese descent
- At the bottom level, the native and mestizo (the portugese-descent eurasian)
What is the role of Dutch language in Dutch East Indies? Why not all Indo speak Dutch?
Dutch played important role as “intellectual’s language” during Dutch East Indies. Most of high-profile job required fluency of Dutch. It was the language of prestige and aristrocrats. Not all Indo people could afford education, some actually lived in Kampoeng, left no trace of European origin instead of name only and only speak Malay.
Middle class Indo could afford school, but many worked as petty officials, shop clerks, and low-profile jobs.
Many third generation of Indo these days don’t speak Dutch because they are assimilated with country they were born and suffered language loss.
How was the life of Indo during Japanese occupation?
It was probably the worst period of Indo during their life in Dutch East Indies. The Japanese broke the caste system and privileges of Dutch and Indo. Japanese was in the highest caste, followed by Indonesian Natives, Orientals, Eurasians, and the lowest were Dutch. Indo must prove their Asian blood to prevent being put in concentration camp, the Asian blood became desirable only to prevent them being put in the camp.
Why the Indo chose to be repatriated to Netherlands instead of taking Indonesian nationality?
One of the overlooked social aspect was that Indo, despite being legally registered as European, they were also facing discrimination by the pure Dutch. Not all the Indo could speak dutch, and some only spoke malay.
The Indo was having discrimination from both sides of the totok and the natives. Culturally, they were mixed bag of Dutch and Indonesian and resulting an ambiguous identity. It’s uncommon that Indo faced inferiority complex to the Dutch, and superiority complex to their Asian heritage. Despite the discrimination they faced in colonial period, they were generally enjoying more privileges compared to natives.
The atrocities they faced in Bersiap period probably made the Indo have high distrust to the Indonesian government. How could you see the new republic positively when you were part of ethnic minority that just recently faced violence? There was also cultural issues, the new republican government forbade anything that is from Dutch.
The people with Dutch name must be converted into Indonesian-sounding names and assimilated into Indonesian society, forgetting their Indo culture. While many Indo passed in Netherlands passed Dutch language to their children, the same doesn’t happen for these in America or Indonesia. The third generations slowly losing their culture and their ancestor’s mother language.
Compare the Bersiap period with 1965 and 1998 period, many Chinese left Indonesia because they became target of violence from the natives. It should also be noted that most Chinese-Indonesians culturally genocided due forced assimilation in New Order period, much similar to the situation of Indo during Old Order.
Where could I find old map of Dutch East Indies?
Take a look this page from National Library of Australia, or this map collections from Library of Texas
Could you tell me what the education system during Dutch East Indies?
(Please note this section is still in construction due scarcity of resources)
- Hollandsch-Inlandsche School. School for Indonesian natives
- Europeesche Lagere School. School for Dutch/Indo people.
- Hollandsch-Chineesche School. School for Chinese people.
- Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs. (Junior High School)
- Algemeene Middelbare School. (High School)
- Hogere Burger School. School for European, Indo, or Elite natives.
- Hollandsche Javansche School. School for Javanese.
- Tweede Inlandsche School
- Schakel School
- Vervolg School
- Katholieke Kweekschool
Do you have the names of street and region during Dutch East Indies?
- Jakarta: Batavia
- Bogor: Buitenzorg
- Jayapura: Hollandia
- Banda Aceh, NAD : Koetaradja
- Tanah Gayo, NAD : Van Daalen-Gebergte
- Pancurbatu, Sumatera Utara : Arnhemia
- Bukittinggi, Sumatera Barat : Fort de Kock
- Batusangkar, Sumatera Barat : Fort van der Capellen
- Pagarruyung, Sumatera Barat : Fort van den Bosch
- Teluk Bayur, Sumatera Barat : Emmahaven
- Bengkulu, Bengkulu : Bencoolen
- Bandar Lampung, Lampung : Oosthaven
- Merak, Banten: Sint-Nicolaas Punt
- Ujung Kulon , Banten : Java’s Eerste Punt
- Pulau Sanghiang, Banten : Verlaten Eiland
- Pulau Panjang, Banten : Lang Eiland
- Pulau Kapal, DKI Jakarta : Onrust Eiland
- Pulau Bidadari, DKI Jakarta : Purmerend Eiland
- Ambarawa, Jawa Tengah : Fort Willem I
- Ambon, Maluku : Amboina
- Puncak Jaya, Papua : Carstensz-Pyramid
- Puncak Trikora, Papua: Wilhelmina-top
Stret names in Jakarta:
- Jalan Pintu Besar Utara: Binnennieuwpoortstraat
- Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan: Buitennieuwpoortstraat
- Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan I : Gang Ribalt
- Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta : Jacatraweg
- Jalan Pinangsia : Financieenstraat
- Jalan Mangga Besar : Prinsenlaan
- Jalan Blustru : Gang Lindeteves
- Jalan Kebon Jeruk : Sireneweg
- Jalan Hayam Wuruk : Molenvliet Oost
- Jalan Gajah Mada : Molenvliet West
- Jalan Pintu Air Raya : Sluisbrugstraat
- Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara : Koningsplein Noord
- Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat : Koningsplein West
- Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan : Koningsplein Zuid
- Jalan Medan Merdeka Timur : Koningsplein Oost
- Jalan Juanda : Noordwijkstraat
- Jalan Veteran : Rijswijkstraat
- Jalan Budi Utomo : Vrijmetselaarweg
- Jalan Veteran I : Citadelweg
- Jalan Veteran III : Secretarieweg
- Jalan Perwira : Willemslaan
- Jalan Budi Kemuliaan : Gang Scott
- Jalan Pembangunan II : Gang Chasse
- Jalan Juanda III : Gang Thiebault
- Jalan Gunung Sahari : Groote Zuiderweg
- Jalan Imam Bonjol : Oranje-Nassau Boulevard
- Jalan Teuku Umar : Van Heutsz Boulevard
- Jatinegara Area : Meester Cornelis
- Lapangan Banteng Area : Weltevreden
- Pinggir Lapangan Monas: Koningsplein
- Mesjid Istiqlal: Wilhelmina Park
- Lapangan Banteng: Waterlooplein
- Lapangan Singa: Parade Plaats
- Dept. Keuangan: Het Witte Huis
- Istana Daendels, Mahkamah Agung: Departement van Justitie
- Kimia Farma: Vritmetselaar
- Gedung Kesenian Jakarta: Stadsshcouwburg
- Pasar Baru: Passer Baroe
- Gedung Antara: Gedong Algemeene Niews en Telegraaf Agentschap – Aneta
- Kantor Pos Filateli: Kantoor Post Telegraaf en Telefoon
- Jl. Pos: Postweg
- Stasiun Juanda: Noorwijk Station