FAQ

This is FAQ (frequently asked question) page, still in construction and will be constantly updated.

Why did you create this site?

In 2005, my dearest Oma (grandmother) passed away,  I was upset and sad because I just realized I didn’t know anything about her and her family heritage. I decided to become genealogist of my own family and building my family tree. In 2008, I discovered Dutch-Indonesian community at facebook, and I was very surprised that there are many people who come from similar background. I decided to create this site to serve as information point for anything related to Dutch-Indonesian topic since there is lack of forum/discussion in internet for the Dutch-Indonesian.

What does Indo mean?

While Indo originally refers “Dutch-Indonesian” (Indo-Belanda), these days, the meaning has deviated from its original purpose:

  1. “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”.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. “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.

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.

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 inUS, 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.

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.

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 academic literature regarding Indo?

Check out this section.

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:

  1. In the highest level is the Totok, the pure-blood Dutch who born in Netherlands.
  2. At the second level, there is Creole people, pure-blooded dutch who was born in Batavia
  3. At the third level, the Indo people, mixed heritage of Dutch-Indonesian
  4. At the fourth level the oriental, this consists of Arabic and Chinese descent
  5. 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.

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