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Nederlands_indie, Ambon (2026)

18/09/2025

The historical definition of 'esplanade' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress's guns. In modern usage, the space allows the area to be paved as a pedestrian walk. In the former Dutch East Indies, the esplanade of Medan was a famous example. It's now known as Lapangan Merdeka. But did you know that Ambon also had its own esplanade?
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1️⃣
'The Esplanade on Ambon in the Moluccas.' (between 1890 and 1906)
2️⃣
'Johan Duyverman with his wife and their children in front of the Teacher Training College for Native Teachers on the Esplanade in Ambon.' (1924)
3️⃣
'Esplanade with the entrance gate of Fort Nieuw Victoria in Ambon in the background.' (1928)
4️⃣
'Esplanade in Ambon.' (approx. 1900)
5️⃣
'The Esplanade with Hotel Van Aart in Ambon.' (approx. 1910)
6️⃣
'Social club De Eendracht and Esplanade Hotel in Ambon.' (approx. 1929)
7️⃣
'The Esplanade in Ambon where soldiers, officers, several Europeans and Chinese with their families stayed in the open air after the earthquake.' (1898)
8️⃣
'Ambon. Esplanade on the west side, near the social club.' (1900 - 1940)
***
Source: KITLV / Leiden University Libraries (1 - 7), Wereldmuseum (8)

17/09/2025

These wonderful photos are all from the book 'Met de camera door Nederlandsch-Indië' (With the camera through the Dutch Indies) which was released in 1923. She visited Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Timor and Flores. To illustratie the book, writer E.W. Viruly took pictures herself during her travels. She calls them 'amateur shots' in the book, but I find them pretty lovely. What do you think?
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1️⃣
'Lombok district chief. The punggawa of Cakranegara.'
2️⃣
'Minangkabau bridal couple from Payakumbuh.'
3️⃣
'Mentawei people from North Pagai.'
4️⃣
'One of the giant temple guards at Singosari.'
5️⃣
'Balinese Youth in the Pura Satria, Badung (Denpasar), South Bali.'
6️⃣
'One of our Flores companions in Pemo, on the way to the three colored crater lakes.'
7️⃣
'A meo (pagan priest, headhunter descendant) in kampong Lioemata, inland Timor.'
8️⃣
Javanese nobleman Raden Mas Ng. Sujonopuro in the craton in Solo.
***
Source: KB nationale bibliotheek / Delpher

15/09/2025

🎸The guitar played a transformative role in the cultural expression of Indo-Europeans, especially in the post-colonial context of the former Dutch East Indies. As Indonesian and more Western musical traditions blended, the guitar became a symbol of identity and innovation. This fusion gave birth to Indorock in the 1950s—a vibrant genre pioneered by Indo-European musicians in the Netherlands. Drawing from traditional Kroncong, Hawaiian music, and American rock 'n' roll, Indorock featured fast-paced guitar riffs and energetic performances. It not only showcased technical virtuosity but also served as a cultural bridge, allowing Indo-European youth to assert their hybrid identity in a rapidly changing society.
'Gitaren uit de Oost' ( - Guitars from the East) is a serie of talk shows and podcasts featuring live music and video footage that explores the origins and influence of Indorock. How does music connect generations within the Indo-European and Moluccan diaspora? And how does this influence endure? The next edition takes place during the Haarlem Vinyl Festival () on Saturday 27 September. With guests Woody Brunings from the Crazy Rockers (OG Indorocker) and , front woman of . Go check it out!
***
1️⃣
'Indo-European man with a guitar in a living room in Batavia.' (approx. 1915)
2️⃣
'Studio portrait of singer and actor Tan Tjeng Bok with guitar in Java.' (approx. 1930)
3️⃣
'It was a tiring journey, but during the rest breaks, Private Gemser still took out his guitar.' (1949)
4️⃣
'KNIL soldiers (Dutch East Indies Army) during a rest break. A soldier plays the guitar.' (1948)
5️⃣
'A KNIL soldier plays the guitar. In front of him is an older woman (his mother?).' (1947)
6️⃣
'KNIL soldier plays guitar.' (1947)
7️⃣
'Kroncong, romantic music in the tropics. The guitar is ready and the boss tries the instrument.' (1941)
***
Source: Wereldmuseum (1, 2), Nationaal Archief (3 - 7)

14/09/2025

🪞Lovely reflection in the water😍 The Dieng Plateau, located in Central Java, Indonesia, is a volcanic plateau known as the "Abode of the Gods." This is a fitting name, as the site is home to some of the oldest surviving Hindu temples in Java, dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries. The antiquities found here are primarily the remnants of these temples, which are small, simple, and dedicated to the god Shiva. They are believed to be part of a vast complex that once held hundreds of structures, many of which have since disappeared. The most prominent of these are grouped into clusters, such as the Arjuna Temple Complex, which includes the temples of Arjuna, Semar, Srikandi, Puntadewa, and Sembadra. The temples and other artifacts found on the plateau, such as statues and inscriptions, provide important insights into the early history of Hindu civilization in Java.
***
'Dieng plateau in Central Java.' (approx. 1925)
***
Source: KITLV / Leiden University Libraries

13/09/2025

👀peek-a-boo👀 | The end of Dutch New Guinea came about as a result of a prolonged dispute between the Netherlands and Indonesia over the territory's sovereignty. Following the independence of Indonesia, the Netherlands initially held onto Dutch New Guinea, intending to prepare it for its own independence. However, Indonesia saw the territory as an integral part of its nation and threatened military action. Under pressure from the United States, who feared Indonesia would turn to the Soviet Union for support, the Netherlands was forced to relinquish control. In 1962, the territory was transferred to a United Nations administration and then to Indonesia in 1963. This was followed by the 'Act of Free Choice' in 1969, a controversial plebiscite where a small, hand-picked group of Papuans, under pressure from the Indonesian military, voted unanimously in favor of integration with Indonesia. The final handover of the territory prompted a significant migration of Dutch, Indo-Dutch and Papuan people, including civil servants, military personnel, and their families. Many of these so called 'repatriates' had to leave their homes and livelihoods behind and start a new life in the Netherlands, a country that was often completely foreign to them.
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'Repatriates from New Guinea have arrived in the port of Amsterdam on the ship "Zuiderkruis." The Hettinga brothers look curiously at their new world.' (1962)
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❤Like what I do? Buy me a coffee☕ or candybar. Check out my bio! Terima kasih🙏🏾
Source: Nationaal Archief

12/09/2025

😢I reckon you've seen the devastating images of flooding coming from Bali the last couple of days. According to the BBC, at least 14 people on the island have been killed in what officials say are Bali's worst floods in a decade. Torrential rains triggered severe flooding across most of the island, causing rivers to burst their banks. The rain has now stopped and water levels are receding but rescuers are still searching for survivors. Officials in some areas say rubbish clogged drainage systems, making the floods worse. The island has long struggled with waste management problems and poor infrastructure. Landslides and flash floods are not uncommon across the Indonesian archipelago especially during the rainy season and climate change has made the situation worse. Luckily, rains are expected to be less intense over the island from Thursday.
I truly hope this is (another) wake up call for the state, provincial and local governments and politicians to do something about this. Of course flooding will always be a possibility, especially with the changing climate, but at least try to minimize the effects of it. Maybe use some of the income from the Bali Tourist Tax?
The following photos are not from Bali, but somewhere on Java (unfortunately not specified). They were made in 1919 and show that flooding has always been a problem in this region, with torrential rains causing flash floods.
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1️⃣ - 3️⃣
'Destruction by a flood.'
4️⃣
'Height of the flood.'
5️⃣
'Village road flooded.'
***
Source: Wereldmuseum

11/09/2025

🏰Fort Nieuw Amsterdam was a fort built in 1657 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Manado (North Sulawesi), in the former Dutch East Indies. It stood in the old city center and was destroyed by the Allies during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia in World War II. (Wikipedia)
***
1️⃣
'Entrance to Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, Manado.' (1927 - 1928)
2️⃣
'Water well, guard and prisoner in Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, Manado.' (1927 - 1928)
3️⃣
'Social club (Dutch: sociëteit) on the road along Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, Manado.' (approx. 1920)
4️⃣
'W.L. Houbolt as deputy commander at Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, Manado.' (1927 - 1928)
5️⃣
'Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, Manado.' (1927 - 1928)
6️⃣
'W.L. Houbolt (Local Military Commander) and the Head of the Local Government in a view of the gunpowder magazine of Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, Manado.' (1927 - 1928)
7️⃣
'Group photo of prisoners with guards at Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, Manado.' (1927 - 1928)
8️⃣
'Fort Nieuw Amsterdam in Manado, North Sulawesi.' (1910)
9️⃣
'Members of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) at the flag bastion of Fort Nieuw Amsterdam in Manado.' (between 1920 and 1927)
***
Source: Wereldmuseum (1 - 7), KITLV / Leiden University Libraries (8, 9)

09/09/2025

⚓Hr.Ms. (her majesty's) Krakatau was a minelayer built for the Royal Netherlands Navy in the former Dutch East Indies during the 1920s. On 11 October 1932, Krakatau capsized in the Oostervaarwater (the eastern route to the Madura Strait) near Surabaya. At the time the ship was doing a speed related exercise when it began taking water. It was theorized that this was the result of leaving the mine doors at the rear of the ship open. The increasing speed during the exercise would have led to high waves that would land on the rear of the ship, which could pour inside through the open doors. Eventually the water inside the ship gathered at one side of the ship and it slowly capsized. On 4 December 1932 Krakatau was re-floated and towed to the naval base in Surabaya. There it was determined that the ship had taken minimal damage and would be fully repaired. The next year, on 4 September 1933, Krakatau was taken back into service. In early 1942, the ship was scuttled by her crew to prevent her capture by the Japanese. (Wikipedia)
***
1️⃣ - 9️⃣
'Minelayer Hr.Ms. Krakatau capsized in Oostervaarwater near Surabaya.' (1932)
Some pictures are from the day of the capsizing while others were taken during the salvaging of the ship. Note the many Indonesian crewmembers on the ship.
🔟
'Minelayer Hr.Ms. Krakatau moored at the Marine Establishment.' (1924 - 1940)
A photo of the ship during good times. Note the large mine on the left.
***
Source: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie

08/09/2025

Lovely pictures from a cave near Payakumbuh, West Sumatra. I think this is 'Goa Ngalau Indah' which is still a touristic atraction in the region.
***
1️⃣
'Cave at Payakumbuh.' (approx. 1910)
2️⃣
'Cave near Payakumbuh.' (approx. 1895)
Note the man in the middle of the photo... Easy to miss! 🧐
***
Source: KITLV / Leiden University Libraries

06/09/2025

💮One of the most recognizable features of the Bogor Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya Bogor) are the large water lillies (Victoria amazonica or Victoria regia) in the pond near the presidential palace. This lily pond has been photographed many times and is still a popular place to shoot photos. The Bogor Palace (Istana Bogor) is one of seven presidential palaces of Indonesia. During the colonial era the palace became the favorite residence of the Dutch governors-general due to Bogor's more adaptable climate.
***
1️⃣
'Governor-General's Palace in Buitenzorg (Bogor) with Victoria regia and lotus plants in the front.' (between 1901 and 1902)
2️⃣
'Botanical Garden in Buitenzorg (Bogor).' (approx. 1905)
3️⃣
'Fountain in the large pond of the National Botanical Garden in Buitenzorg (Bogor).' (approx. 1890)
4️⃣
'The large pond in the National Botanical Garden in Buitenzorg (Bogor) with the Victoria regia and the Kigolia primata, also known as the sausage tree.' (1899)
5️⃣
'The National Botanical Garden, Buitenzorg (Bogor). Victoria regia Pond.' (1936)
6️⃣
'Flowering Victoria regia in a pond at the National Botanical Garden in Buitenzorg (Bogor).' (1900 - 1940)
***
Source: KITLV / Leiden University Libraries (1 - 2), Wereldmuseum (3 - 6)

05/09/2025

👮What do you think of nr.4️⃣? | During the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia, the police played a central role in maintaining Dutch control through systematic oppression and violence. They were tasked not only with enforcing colonial laws but also with suppressing dissent, often using brutal tactics such as beatings, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation to silence political opposition. This force created a climate of fear and repression, ensuring the continuation of Dutch rule through force rather than consent. Unfortunately, we still see the same systems in place in Indonesia today, with a police force at the service of the (rich) people in power instead of securing and protecting the rights of all Indonesians.
***
1️⃣
'Police with a prisoner in Surabaya.' (approx. 1880)
2️⃣
'Training of local police officers in Surabaya.' (1924)
3️⃣
'Section Police of the Department of Internal Affairs in Batavia (Jakarta).' (1933)
4️⃣
'Dice game at the police barracks in Batavia (Jakarta).' (between 1895 and 1905)
Do you think the police officers turned a blind eye here? I guess betting on the street would be illegal, but maybe the officers themselves liked to play this game?
5️⃣
'Mr. A. Stenz (seated) of the police with his orderlies, probably in Kudus.' (1915)
6️⃣
'Commander Van Dalen with armed police in Selong on East Lombok.' (1894)
7️⃣
'Inspection of the General Police stationed in Sumbawa by the Minister of the Interior, Anak Agung Gde Agung, and the Resident of Timor and Dependencies, C.W. Schüller.' (1947)
8️⃣
'Inspector W.J. Beck with the brigade of armed police in the yard of the inspector's house in Tanjungbalai on the island of Karimunbesar.' (1918)
9️⃣
'A detachment of the General Police under the command of Captain Suderhuizen is on its way to the presentation of awards at Kota Nica near Hollandia (Jayapura).' (1945)
🔟
'The armed police of Selong in East Lombok.' (between 1894 and 1903)
***
Source: KITLV / Leiden University Libraries

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