Dutch Occupation is a Story of Resistance, Not Colonization: Historian

Jakarta Globe

The common idea that the Dutch colonized Indonesia for 350 years is wrong, according to University of Indonesia Professor Taufik Abdullah.

“This nation has been drowned in the myth that Indonesia was colonized for 350 years by the Dutch. It does not corroborate with the facts. What really happened was the Dutch needed more than 300 years to conquer some areas in the Dutch Indies,” said Taufik at a seminar in Medan, North Sumatra on Tuesday, as quoted by TV One.

The Dutch first set foot in Indonesia in the 16th century, arriving in Banten harbor and led by Cornelius De Houtman, Taufik said. Rule by the Netherlands ended in 1942 when the Japanese conquered the Dutch East Indies.

“It is illogical to say that the Dutch conquered Indonesia as soon as they arrived in Banten,” Taufik said.

He argued that the focus on Dutch colonization tends to devalue Indonesia's own history of great kings and kingdoms, especially the powerful rulers of the 17th century.

During that era, Sultan Iskandar Muda of the Aceh Kingdom (1607-1636) expanded his reign to the whole west coast of Sumatra. Sultan Agung of the Mataram Kingdom (1613-1645) reigned over all of Java island except Banten and Batavia (Jakarta). These and other local leaders fought Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese forces.

JG