News / Blog

Read about news items; noteworthy information, especially about recent and important events.
2023 LA Herdenking Indo

15 August 1945 Commemoration and Liberation Ball 2023

De Geest Overwint The Indo Project was honored to host its first annual Commemoration and Liberation Ball on Saturday, August 12, 2023, in Buena Park, California. This important event is about our shared heritage and a tribute to generations that came before us. The event’s theme was “De Geest Overwint”…

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Herdenking and Bevrijdingsbal 2023

Herdenking = Commemoration of the End of WWII Bevrijdingsbal = Liberty Ball to Celebrate our Freedom You are cordially invited to The Indo Project’s first annual Commemoration and Liberation Ball on Saturday, August 12, 2023, 1-5pm in Southern California. Join the Southern California Indo community as we honor the Dutch…

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Holland Festival Celebrating King’s Day 2023

On Sunday, April 30, 2023, The Indo Project was present at the well-attended 33rd Annual Holland Festival celebrating Dutch King’s Day in Long Beach, California. This year the two annual Dutch events, Holland Festival and Dutch King’s Day, merged into ONE BIG EVENT! Over two thousand people showed up for…

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Indo Kumpulan: Join Us in the Rockies

In Colorado, Indos are meeting regularly to share a meal and build community. The Colorado Kumpulan is hosted by Lies Dohne and Teda DaCosta. The group of 40+ members meet for lunch every month at different restaurants, mostly Asian, in the greater Denver Area.  If you live in Denver, the…

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2023 Kumpulan sponsored by SoCal Indo

SoCal Kumpulan: Tell Your Indo story in 2023

SoCal Indo founder Michael Passage started 2023 by hosting a very well-attended Kumpulan, which is Indonesian for “gathering”. The event was attended by Indos and others with a shared history in the Dutch East Indies. Over seventy people from multiple California counties gathered on the evening of Friday, January 6th…

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TIP’s Top 2022 Indo Stories and News Articles

A look back at The Indo Project’s top stories and news articles of 2022. Did your favorite TIP articles make the top five lists? Top Five Indo Stories #5 Oma Moesje Read about how Robert Kaya’s Oma from Kota Raja, Aceh, ended up in the Statenkwartier, The Hague. #4 Indo…

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Long Beach Holland Festival 2022

Hello to all who attended the Long Beach Holland Festival on September 5th, 2022 and especially to those that stopped by The Indo Project booth. It was an extremely hot day at 108 degrees fahrenheit, a new record since 1988 that was at 107! It was nice to meet all…

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The Indo Project Commemorates Herdenkingen 2022

August 15th is the annual commemoration of the end of WWII in the former Dutch East Indies. An event in which we honor those who suffered and sacrificed their lives. The Indo Project is proud to be present at major events held in The Netherlands representing all the Indos worldwide…

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Holland Festival 2022 Moved to Labor Day Weekend

The annual Holland Festival in Long Beach has permanently moved to Labor Day Weekend and will be celebrated this year on Sunday, September 4th, 2022. For many Southern California Indos, Memorial Day weekend in May was synonymous with the Holland Festival. The Holland Festival is an annual event celebrated at…

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Commemorating and Celebrating May 4 and 5

On May 4th the Netherlands commemorates victims of war; on May 5th the people celebrate the fact that they live in freedom. The National Committee helps determine how meaning is given to commemorating and celebrating the memory of the Second World War. The national observance of Remembrance Day in the…

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Over de Grens

Beyond the Pale – Over de grens

An Editorial on the Introduction to Over de grens  by Inez Hollander, Ph.D. Director Emeritus for The Indo Project and Author of Silence Voices/Verstilde stemmen en verzwegen levens I apologize to you, dear reader.  I was going to read the recently published decolonization research anthology Over de grens: Nederlands extreme…

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Rutte: deep apologies to Indonesians

[Telegraaf article 2/17/2022 by Alexander Bakker – translated by Margaret Maugenest] Rutte: deep apologies to Indonesians for extreme and systematic violence BRUSSELS — In response to findings of the investigation into extreme violence being used by the Dutch against the Indonesians during the War for independence in Indonesia (1945-1949), Prime…

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Ons Land - Our Country, exhibit in The Hague

Ons Land exhibit opens at museum Sophiahof in The Hague

The official opening of the exhibition Ons Land – decolonization, generations and stories, was February 8th, 2022. Representatives of The Indo Project were invited to take a sneak peek at the Sophiahof Museum in The Hague. ‘Ons Land’ is Dutch for Our Country. This exhibition is about Dutch colonial history…

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Rijksmuseum Exhibit Revolusi - Bersiap

Revolusi Revisionism by the Rijksmuseum?

The Back Story In light of the upcoming REVOLUSI exhibit at the Rijksmuseum which deals with the independence struggle of Indonesia, one of the Indonesian curators, Bonnie Triyana, publicly announced that the word “bersiap” should be (and was going to be) omitted from the exhibit. He argued that the term,…

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Numbers 2021 on lightbox flat lay, top view with copy space on blue background. New year celebration. Happy New Year 2021 concepts By Elizaveta Elesina

TIP’s Top 2021 Indo Stories and News Articles

A look back at The Indo Project’s top stories and news articles of 2021. Did your favorites TIP articles make the top five lists? Top Five Indo Stories #5 An Indo Profile: Hannie Blaauw – Camp Stories and More Read TIP’s Indo Profile about war camp survivor and musician Hannie…

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Book cover

Indo Book Highlight: Ramboet Djagoeng

Where Appearance Meets Identity by Willem-Jan Brederode Is it possible to have flaming red hair, freckles, fair skin but also an Indo-Dutch identity? Of course it is, you will think! Well, that is, if you fully understand both the  genetics behind redheadedness and the genealogy of being Indo-Dutch. In 2020 …

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Watch was given to Opa Bebelaar to commemorate his 1911 birth along with condolence letter from Queen Wilhelmina to author's Oma

Indo Book Highlight: Time

by David Bebelaar Finding a Box of Letters Searching for information about my grandparents led me to a box of letters they had written to each other. The correspondence documented their lives as a young couple and all of the experiences they had to navigate together. Their relocation from the…

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TIP Volunteers at Holland Festival Long Beach 2021

Holland Festival LA: a beautiful day to remember- Part III

After nearly two years of absence, this year’s Holland Festival drew more people than expected. Due to the pandemic, the United Netherlands Organizations (non-profit organization) had to cancel the last two festivals. The community was ready and eager to come together again, looking at their responses on social media. And…

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Holland Festival LA: The Indo Project – Part II

The Indo Project will be present at this year’s Holland Festival for the 10th time. Last year was TIP’s 10th anniversary, which was celebrated with a successful rebranding. You are invited to come check out TIP’s new booth, new merchandise, and fun activities. By Jeff Keasberry Once again, the Dutch…

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Holland Festival LA: celebrating community and culture

The 31st Annual Holland Festival in Long Beach is scheduled to return on Sunday, September 5th, 2021. The last time the Dutch-American community had their annual cultural festival was in 2019. by Jeff Keasberry, August 2021. The year 2020 has been a hard year for many people and the pandemic…

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Strong Indo women are honored during the commemoration in Amsterdam. Photo credit: Erik Becking

Commemoration Day 2021

August 15, 2021 was the 76th Anniversary of the end of the Japanese occupation in the Dutch East Indies. From California to the Netherlands, all of the victims from World War II were commemorated. 2021 Commemoration Day – In Remembrance, August 1945 In Los Angeles, Sandra van Lommel-Ly, on behalf…

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Vrouwen kleden kinderen aan in het Adek kamp in Batavia, Bestanddeelnr

TIP Looks Forward to Commemoration Day 2021

August 15th is the annual commemoration of the end of WWII in the Pacific. The Indo community remembers all those who fell and suffered during the Japanese invasion and occupation of the former Dutch East Indies. Indo Monument in Los Angeles Cemetery 2020 was to be the year the Indo…

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Follow TIP and Wellness Wednesday on Instagram

Are you on Instagram? Follow The Indo Project! Help TIP reach 1000 Instagram followers! The Indo Project on Instagram – Don’t Miss Out! Don’t miss out on many interesting and exclusive  The Indo Project posts on Instagram. Help The Indo Project reach 1000 followers; currently it has 720 followers. If…

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René Creutzburg's De Indo US Publication

The Indo Project Remembers René Creutzburg

On his birthday, The Indo Project remembers and celebrates Indo legend René Creutzburg. With his monthly magazine ‘De Indo’, he helped define what it meant to be an Indo in the United States and connected Indos worldwide. Verenigd – United “Oom” René was a great supporter of The Indo Project…

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Indo Saskia Rossi-van den Broek's book Marsini's Gift

Indo Book Highlight: Marsini’s Gift

by Saskia Rossi-van den Broek Marsini’s Gift – the Story of An Indo Family When Saskia Rossi left California in 2018 to return to Holland where she was born, she did not know that her life – she was already in her sixties – would take a staggering turn. First…

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It's a small Indo world as The Indo Project unifies Indos separated in the its diaspora

It’s a Small World

Read as The Indo Project unifies Indos separated in the its diaspora which relocated people to multiple continents. At The Indo Project (“TIP”) a significant part of our mission is rooted in celebrating Indo culture by unifying our people.  One way TIP does this, is by using the reach of…

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Read what our new team members have to say

We are happy to introduce our new team members. Read what motivated them to join. The Indo Project has ambitious goals. In order to grow and achieve our mission, we are continuously seeking contributors, who are proficient, share our passion and enthusiasm. Check link to see how you might be…

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2020 Top The Indo Project Articles

TIP’s Top 2020 Indo Stories and News Articles

A look back at The Indo Project’s top stories and news articles of 2020. Did your favorites TIP articles make the top five lists? Top Five Indo Stories #5 An Indo Profile: The Ballad of Hendrik and Myra SoCal Indo Ronny Kakebeen pays tribute to his parents with his touching…

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Happy Holiday from The Indo Project

2020 The Indo Project Highlights Tenth Anniversary

2020 marked The Indo Project’s official tenth anniversary with rebranding efforts which include revamped logo and new website amidst a tumultuous year which included a pandemic. The Indo Project Celebrates Tenth Anniversary 2020 marked The Indo Project’s official tenth year anniversary. The TIP team wishes it could have celebrated with…

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Indo Book Review: Tetralogy – Pramoedya Ananta Toer

The Indo Project reviews book Tetralogy by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, a series of historical novels about the former Dutch East Indies. The author describes life in the Dutch colony around the turn of the last century. Tetralogy –  Pramoedya Ananta Toer A Book Review by Kareen Richard Schöller Tetralogy consists…

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Celebrating Sinterklaas – part of our Dutch culture

Sinterklaas or Sint-Nicolaas  is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Other names for the figure include De Sint (“The Saint”), De Goede Sint (“The Good Saint”), and De Goedheiligman (“The Good Holy Man”) in Dutch. The feast of Sinterklaas celebrates the name day of Saint…

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TIP Receives Portraits from Creutzburg Family

Creutzburg Family Donates Portraits to Moesson

Introduction TIP INTRO to Creutzburg painting delivery to Vivian Boon, Editor-in-Chief – Moesson Magazine, an Indisch magazine published in The Netherlands Throughout so many years, back from the sixties, anyone visiting René Creutzburg’s home would see these two paintings created by Hado Benjamin on the wall of the famous Indo…

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TIP Commemorates 75th Herdenkingen in Hilversum

1945 – 2020 The 75th Commemoration (Part 2 of 2) Indië Herdenking at Noorderbegraafplaats Cemetery in Hilversum, The Netherlands By Priscilla Kluge McMullen – Co-Founder &Chair, The Indo Project As I mentioned in my previous article on the 15 August Herdenking held at De Dam, I cannot believe it has…

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2020 Herdenking Priscilla with soldier in KNIL uniform

TIP Commemorates 75th Herdenkingen on De Dam

1945 – 2020 The 75th Commemoration (Part 1 of 2) Amsterdam, The Netherlands It is only 5 weeks ago but it seems so long ago that the elaborate 2020 Herdenkingen events planned in the Netherlands for this year’s momentous 75th Commemoration of the end of WWII in the former Dutch…

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How did Eddie van Halen’s parents come to America?

Eddie Van Halen, the legendary musician of Indo Dutch descent passed away on October 6th. He was 65. This news was announced by his son, Wolfgang: “I can’t believe I’m having to write this but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning,” he said on Twitter.…

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Herdenking Commemoration Video 2020

The Indo Project has produced a very special video for this year’s 75th anniversary of V-J Day. As you may know, the Herdenking commemoration ceremonies in Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Netherlands will not be going forward in person due to the pandemic. The Indo Project wanted to make sure that we…

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Something new is coming

The Indo Project (TIP) turned 10 in 2019. We are celebrating this milestone with a makeover. OUR MISSION STATEMENT: The Indo Project is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and celebration of Indo culture as well as its history through education, unification and raising public awareness. Yes, TIP will have a…

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Spring 2020 Newsletter Available Now

To sign up for our  future newsletters:  Click here Spread the word to family and friends. Click on the links below to see a specific newsletter: TIP SPRING NEWSLETTER 2020 TIP AUTUMN/WINTER NEWSLETTER 2019 TIP SPRING NEWSLETTER 2019 TIP WINTER NEWSLETTER 2018 TIP AUTUMN NEWSLETTER 2018 TIP SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2018 TIP…

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Become a TIP Youth Ambassador in 2020!

article by Jamie D. Stern CLICK HERE: To check out our interactive Kid-Friendly presentation on Indo History! Children are witnessing history in action. They are smart and they are feeling how life has suddenly become very different. Around the world, we are sharing the COVID-19 experience. There is curiosity, deep…

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Amazon Smile – You Shop, Amazon Gives

Did you know AMAZON donates 0.5% of your purchases to a charitable organization of your choice?  Please consider and take a moment to select The Indo Project as your charity and support us every time you shop! For more information, check out:  http://smile.amazon.com/ch/27- 1241963 We love our followers and supporters!!! We have some exciting…

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The Indo Project 8th Indo Pride Kumpulan in Florida

by Priscilla Klugen McMullen The Indo Project (TIP) held its 8th Indo Pride Kumpulan in Lake Mary, Florida (near Orlando) on November 2, 2019.  It was a huge success with people coming from as far as Tennessee and Illinois. The film Sounds of Origin was shown followed by a  buffet…

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2019 Highlights and Memories

As this eventful 2019 year draws to a close, TIP realizes we have so much to be grateful for, especially as we celebrated our ten year anniversary in October. Transitioning to 2020, we greatly appreciate your consideration of an end-of-the-year donation to propel us into our next decade of honoring…

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The Indo Project Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday

  #Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving to non-profit groups like The Indo Project.  Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy.  #GivingTuesday harnesses the potential of social media and the generosity of people around the world to bring…

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Purchase Sounds of Origins DVD Now

The Sounds of Origins was a wonderful TIP event this year! Now, you can experience this wonderful documentary by Hetty in your own home, share with your family members and friends. The Indo Project’s TIPTalk Series presented Hetty Naaijkens’ newest documentary on the Indos who introduced rock ‘n roll to…

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2019 Annual “Herdenkingsdag” Commemoration – Los Angeles

On Saturday, August 10, 2019, The Indo Project board member, Eric Morgan, was honored to lay a wreath on behalf of The Indo Project at the annual commemoration ceremonies ‘Herdenking Ceremony,’ which was held at the National Cemetery of Los Angeles. Approximately fifty people came together out of respect for…

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Celebration of Life for Jos Smith

Jos Smit Celebration of Life, Saturday April 28th. This celebration of life event was held at the Avio, the long standing Dutch Social Club in Anaheim, CA. While it may not have been the ‘happiest place on earth’, it wasn’t a somber affair neither. People came to celebrate the man;…

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Sounds of Origin – Klanken van Oorsprong movie opens in USA

Note: Click here to purchase the Sounds of Origin, limited supply! The USA Premiere of Klanken van Oorsprong – Sounds of Origin The Indo Project’s TIPTalk Series presents Hetty Naaijkens’ newest documentary on the Indos who introduced rock ‘n roll to the Netherlands.  The film is an in-depth documentary on…

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Mobilisatie-Oorlogskruis

The Mobilisatie-Oorlogskruis, a medal awarded by the Netherlands for military service during World War II.   THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF K.N.I.L. SOLDIERS WHO DIED DURING WWII IN ASIA OR DURING THE BERSIAP PERIOD IN THE FORMER DUTCH EAST INDIES. THEY MIGHT QUALIFY FOR THE MOBILISATIE-OORLOGSKRUIS MEDAL…

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Loss and Restoration of Dutch Nationality, version 2

REVISED ARTICLE NOTE: The following article was originally published on March 3, 2019. Due to many of the comments and questions, the author Paul Munsell has graciously revised the article. The article was revised and updated on TIP website on May 21, 2019. INTRODUCTION A short time ago, there were…

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Show TIP Love!

Send The Indo Project Some Love We love our followers and supporters!!! We have some exciting upcoming events in 2019 and would appreciate some love in preparation. Please consider a Valentine donation today! Click here to be redirected to the Donation page and follow instructions. Thank you from The Indo…

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Indonesia’s Date of Independence

Changing the date of Indonesia’s Date of Independence? An Act of Historical Negationism By Priscilla Kluge McMullen – October 2018 After reading yet another article penned by an academic in Amsterdam who advocates rolling back Indonesia’s date of independence, I thought it might be beneficial to know certain facts about…

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A Festive Massacre

By: Hans Vervoort Translated from Dutch by Willem ten Wolde “Homesickness is: knowing the way in a house that no longer exists,” is one of the most beautiful statements by writer Rudy Kousbroek (Pematang Siantar 1929 – Leiden 2010). Rudy undertook a nostalgic trip back to Sumatra in 1979 and later—with…

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The Indo Project at the Love 4 Lombok 7.0 Fundraising Event

By Jamie Stern, Director of Research On September 22nd, 2018, SoCal Indo held a beautiful benefit party in an effort to raise funds for the victims of the Lombok Earthquake. A series of devastating earthquakes occurring between late July and mid-August resulted in hundreds of deaths and major structural damage…

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Become a TIP Youth Ambassador!

It’s back to school time! We at The Indo Project (TIP) wish all our Indo kids a wonderful school year. To help bring Indo studies into the classroom, we’ve developed a presentation that can be used by students, teachers, and anyone who would like to share the history of the…

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TIP celebrating Indo Dutch Heritage at Holland Festival 2018

For the 29th time families and friends gathered at the annual Holland Festival in Long Beach. Up to 4 generations with roots in the Netherlands and the former Dutch East Indies celebrated their heritage while enjoying typical foods, music, arts and crafts. It has become de facto the largest Indo-Dutch…

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Why do we stand for our right to claim unpaid wages?

I am standing here on behalf of my uncle Loet Hoogvelt and my aunt Loes Flohr- who, at 90 years of age, is not avoiding the courts to contest the Backpay settlement- I am standing here on behalf of my uncle George Huffenreuter and my aunt Tineke Flohr. She, who…

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EXCLUSION OF DUTCH INDOS OUTSIDE OF THE NETHERLANDS

The following article first published in August 2017 details the funding of a “Dutch Indo Meeting Place” in The Hague, the Netherlands.  Funds were also set aside for the annual Herdenkingsdag Commemoration on August 15 and a virtual Dutch Indo monument consisting of war stories including the names of victims.…

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Engineering in the Dutch East Indies: the lens matters!

Dear Reader: We often hear about architecture and public works in the former Dutch East Indies that are not in existence anymore.  This article points out the public works built during the colonial era of Indonesia which are still widely in use today!  The countless irrigation works described in this…

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Josina Hillsland joins TIP

Please meet and welcome Josina Hillsland, our new TIP Liaison in the Netherlands who will keep us updated (among other things) about the Indische Kwestie and other matters related to the Indo community in the Netherlands: My name is Josina. I’m a second-generation Indo. I live in the heart of…

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Vacancies:

The Indo Project, Inc. is currently seeking a Website Content Manager for their website TheIndoProject.org and Social Media Pages.  The Website Content Manager will be responsible for growing unique visitors to our key community-oriented site and social media pages and will work closely with the Web Editor-in-Chief and Newsletter Editor.…

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Women made to become comfort women – the Dutch East Indies

The former Netherlands (Dutch) East Indies is present-day Indonesia. The Japanese military occupied the Dutch colony in 1942 during the Pacific War, then placed Dutch nationals in internment facilities and prisoner-of-war camps (90,000 civilians, 40,000 military personnel). Some officials of the Japanese military forcefully transferred Dutch women and women of mixed…

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A Time To Remember – 4th annual TipTalks

It was a warm Saturday afternoon, on October 7th, when more that 150 people came together at the American Legion in Azusa, for  the 4th annual TipTalks: an educational seminar and social event sponsored by The Indo Project in cooperation with SoCal Indo social group.  It was a good mix of 4-generations, varying from…

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First Comfort Women Statue Unveiled in Major Western City

September 22nd, 2017.  By Inez Hollander When statues in this country have become a point for debate with Civil War generals coming down, a new statue in the heart of San Francisco went up on September 22nd. Sadly, controversy swirled around this statue, too, even though it commemorated a completely…

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: REGARDING BACKPAY ARRANGEMENT

MTM Nieuwenhuizen of the Sociale Verzekeringsbank notified us of the closing date of the Dutch Backpay Arrangement: “The Dutch Backpay Arrangement is intended for those who were alive on August 15th, 2015, and who served with the Dutch East Indies government as a civil servant or KNIL soldier prior to…

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Annual Commemoration Los Angeles 2017

The annual commemoration ceremonies ‘herdenkingsceremonie,’ was held on Saturday, August 12th at the National Cemetery of Los Angeles. Around 50 people came together out of respect for the fallen forces and civilians, who lost their life in the former Dutch East Indies during the Japanese occupation and the bersiap period.…

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Is the Indische Kwestie a Human Rights Violation?

The Indo Project Editorial Series Indische Kwestie- Part V By Inez Hollander Lake, Ph.D. In this fifth and final part of our editorial series on the Indische Kwestie, I would like to summarize what has happened with the Indische Kwestie in the last few decades. In the 1970s and the…

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The Indo Project’s Call To Action

Younger generations in America are showing increased interest in their Indo-European heritage, by joining social media groups to connect online with likeminded people. New friendships are forged with those who share a similar background. A yearly reunion for friends and family A growing number of younger visitors are expected to…

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Reporting Back From The Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference

By: Sierra Jacob Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the 4th annual Critical Mixed Race Studies conference at USC. While the label “mixed race” reaffirms the classification of race, critical mixed race studies simultaneously reaffirms and deconstructs it. CMRS resists categories and blurs socially constructed racial lines. Growing…

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Heritage is Multidirectional

By Jack Profijt. What does the word heritage mean to you? Or if I asked, what does preserving our heritage mean to you? The reason I ask this question is because, as many of you know, I am the admin for the “Dutch-Indo Community” (formerly known as “Old Dutch Indonesian…

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Mobilization-War Cross Award.

By Peggy Lesquillier. KNIL sergeant 1st rank Arno Lesquillier, from the village Maarssen, was awarded the Mobilization-War Cross and the Medal for War and Peace yesterday (KNIL stands for the former Dutch Indo Army). This was awarded posthumously, because Lesquillier died on March 1, 1979. He died from complications of the atom bomb…

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The Indische Kwestie: Developments in the 1950s – Part III

A Special Indo Project Editorial Series. by Inez Hollander, Ph.D. On Tuesday, February 28th, party leader Alexander Pechtold of the political party D’66, was a guest in a talkshow and referred to the migrants who came from Indonesia to the Netherlands in the 1950s and 1960s as “Indonesians”. Needless to say, he should…

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The Indische Kwestie Part II: The Period 1945-1953

A Special Indo Project Editorial Series Part II by Inez Hollander, Ph.D. When the Dutch East Indies were liberated after the dropping of the atomic bombs in 1945, The Netherlands tried to take back its colony and conduct business as usual, notwithstanding that Sukarno had declared the country independent on August 17th,…

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Jack Profijt to join The Indo Project Board of Directors.

Old Dutch-Indonesian Community Facebook Group is now officially part of The Indo Project Online Network. The Old Dutch-Indonesian Community Facebook Group (8000+ members) has officially joined The Indo Project Online Network as of January 2017,. The Indo Project (TIP), co-founded by Priscilla McMullen, is an international non-profit organization based in…

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Backpay Scheme extended by a year

Backpay Scheme extended by a year On 24 December 2015, the State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) introduced the Backpay benefit scheme in consultation with the Indisch Platform. This scheme has recently been extended by a year. Applications can now be submitted to the Department for Members of…

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INDO DUTCH KITCHEN SECRETS by Jeff Keasberry

The First of its Kind in the English Language by Inez Hollander OK. I am biased.  When Los Angeles-based entrepreneur and food writer, Jeff Keasberry, asked me to proofread his Indo Dutch Kitchen Secrets manuscript, the first cookbook for Indo Dutch cuisine in English, I said yes and found myself quickly immersed in his…

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The Indo Project interview with Henny Neys

By Eric Morgan This recipient of the “Order of Orange-Nassau”  (in 2008, as recognition by the Dutch government for her service on behalf of its people), does not need much of an introduction to the readers of The Indo Project  (or “TIP”). Though she is Dutch-born from Dutch parents, Henny Neys, inspired by…

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TIP TALKS coming to NorCal

Sign up up for our first TIP TALKS in North California. We will be talking about our shared culinary heritage – the food that binds us together! In a true Indo fashion we never stop talking about food. Indo food is at the heart of our community. We make recommendations…

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DEATH MARCH THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS

The Never Before Told Story Of A Forgotten Period After WWII And A Gruesome Discovery In The Mountains Of Java. By Hans Vervoort. The War Cemetery, Kembang Kuning, in Surabaya is impressive. Thousands of white crosses for World War II victims stand in neat long rows and if you walk…

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INDONESIA TODAY: Could Garuda Save Sinking Jakarta?

By Linda Kimbrough Garuda is a mythical bird-like creature adopted from Hinduism and Buddhism ideology as Indonesia’s national emblem called Garuda Pancasila. Soekarno’s mother was from Bali, a province in Indonesia where the largest Hindu followers is concentrated. Looking at the Then and Now photograph of Jakarta, one could only notice…

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Journey of the Emanuels

By Linda Kimbrough Happy news from Heddy Emanuel of Anaheim, CA. Last month, her son Colonel Frank D. Emanuel was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. A luncheon to celebrate this promotion was held at the Sacramento Military Department, Sacramento, CA on Friday April 1, 2016. Both of Frank’s parents…

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Learning about heritage through food

More than 2,000 people came together to celebrate their heritage at the 27th Holland Festival, held at Gemmrig Park, in Long Beach. For many of the attendees (around 70% with roots in the former Dutch East Indies), it is a yearly reunion with family and friends where they enjoy typical…

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TIP TALKS: The Food That Binds Us Together

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! Suggested minimum donation: $15.00 per person Includes free parking, entry, discussion & sweet & savory samples with refreshments will be served after the presentations and Q and A session.   Pay by credit card or PayPal at https://www.theindoproject.org/donate   How Indo Heritage & Identity Is Preserved. On Monday,…

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The Visit to Hiroshima: Flawed Diplomacy

An editorial by Inez Hollander, PhD On the different social media platforms, discussions regarding the visits by Kerry and Obama to Hiroshima became emotional and contentious. While the visits have been planned carefully with the caveat that neither Kerry nor Obama would offer an apology, I have been bothered by…

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Breaking News: SF Board of Education unanimously passes a Resolution to support ‘Comfort Women’ history textbook in California

By Phyllis Kim. Last night, San Francisco Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution, supporting recent curriculum revision proposed by California Department of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission.  California Department of Education will consider this revision on May 11 and 12. During the public comment period of January and February of this…

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CWJC DINNER SAN FRANCISCO

by Inez Hollander Lake As an official partner of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition, Linda Kimbrough and Inez Hollander Lake of The Indo Project attended a dinner in Chinatown in San Francisco on March 28. The international coalition was honoring the former comfort woman survivor and Korean activist grandma Lee…

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Announcing: The Indo Project Research Fellowship.

The Indo Project (www.theindoproject.org), an international non-profit organization and the #1 portal for the Indo Dutch community worldwide, invites eligible candidates to apply for The Indo Project Research Fellowship to promote and publish original research covering any aspect of the Indo Dutch community, its art, history, literature and/or culture. Interested candidates who…

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Indonesian Pilgrimage, Part I.

By Inez Hollander. In 2008, I published Silenced Voices with Ohio University Press– the book was a so-called family memoir about the hidden force of the Dutch East Indies in my mother’s family: more than three generations of her family had resided in the Indies, where they had had several plantations, yet…

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Dutch Government started back pay after more than 70 years.

AFTER MORE THAN 70 YEARS, The Dutch Government is finally starting to distribute back-pay owed to Civil Servants and Soldiers who served during WWII in the former Dutch East Indies!  Translation by Priscilla McMullen of article: “Staat keert eerste geld uit aan Indische ambtenaren en militairen” in NOS.NL by Robert Bas.…

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General Meeting Backpay

The Hague, December 10th, 2015 – By Inez Hollander Lake. Today, on December 10th, 2015, there was a General Meeting between Secretary van Rijn and Members of the Tweede Kamer to discuss questions regarding the backpay of 1,100 remaining survivors who, as soldiers or civil servants, served in the Dutch East Indies during the war.…

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A Short History of the Indo-Europeans of the Netherlands Indies

By Humphrey de la Croix – Indischhistorisch.nl  The loss of the Indies after handing over sovereignty to Soekarno’s, Indonesia in 1949, must have affected Dutch political leadership, business, and veterans to such a degree that two generations of historians and political scientists considered the postcolonial era as a ‘no-go area’.…

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Thank You & Happy Holidays

Dear Friends, Most of us who have our roots in the former Dutch East Indies recognize the importance of keeping our history and culture alive.  A constant reminder of this are the letters and emails you send us and the old photos and passionate postings you place on Facebook.  All…

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MANY THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2015!

We are happy to report that because of YOUR interest and support, The Indo Project was able to accomplish much this past year! The organization is truly becoming the portal for Indo history and culture worldwide, especially representing Indos outside of the Netherlands. This is reflected in: The growing number…

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The Power of Perseverance

By Kareen Richard. Recently I attended a lecture by Pieter Kohnstam about the Holocaust. Pieter is a German Jew who was born in Amsterdam because his parents had to suddenly flee Germany on some trumped-up charges by the Nazis. In Amsterdam, the family lived on the Merwedeplein, a few doors…

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Dido: Model, Mother, Resistance Fighter

By Susannah Palk First Published in The Underground The Hague, Edition#4 May/June 2015 Smiling seductively as she winks playfully at the camera, the fresh-faced image of Dido Van Soest betrays little of the audacious woman underneath – the young, charismatic model turned resistance fighter, whose life would ultimately end in…

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To He Who Crossed the Sea and other poems

BY ANDREA PARIJS I am a 3rd generation Indo currently residing in Southern California. Born and raised on a remote farm in Hawaii to an Indo-Chinese mother and American father, and only ever knowing two other Indo families, grew up always questioning any claim of my own to a culture. Then, after…

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Welcome to our new website.

We are happy to announce that we have launched our new ‘responsive website’ today, Sunday August 30, 2015. What do the changes entail?: 1) responsive website meaning; our website provides an optimal viewing experience — ease of reading and navigation with a minimum of re-sizing, panning, and scrolling — across…

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NAME THAT BOOK!!

We need your help! What is YOUR favorite book that captures the Indo experience? We have all been there—our Indo Dutch and Indies Dutch culture is strong, but some of it we cannot share with our children and/or grandchildren because it is… in Dutch! The Indo Project is well aware…

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Today’s Enemies Will Be Tomorrow’s Friends.

By Joty ter Kulve. Today’s enemies will be tomorrow’s friends—however unimaginable it might seem. I certainly did not think this when the doors of our concentration camp in Jakarta were thrown open in August 1945. I had just survived the horrors of imprisonment and was full of negative feelings towards the…

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Commemoration Ceremony in Los Angeles 2015.

On Saturday August 15th the Commemoration Ceremony in Los Angeles  was opened by Sandra van Lommel Ly – Master of Ceremony. Followed by the invocation by Father Edwin Duyshart. Auke Mensink, President of the Committee 15 augustus 1945, gave a word of welcome, thanking the different organizations present. The Director…

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Commemoration Ceremony San Francisco 2015.

The following speech is by Jesse Eijsbroek,  given at the commemoration ceremony in San Francisco on August 2nd, 2015: In June of 1942, the Japanese Empire launched an ambitious military logistics project to connect the existing railways between Bangkok, Thailand and Rangoon, Burma. The line was considered difficult—navigating through hilly…

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70 Years Later: A Plea for Transitional Justice

By Inez Hollander, Ph.D. With the commemoration of the 70th year anniversary of the ending of WWII in Asia, it’s time to look back and look forward, and make sure we share the commemoration of this important year with the next generations to make sure our Indo Dutch legacy doesn’t become…

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More Japanese Whitewashing of Slave Labor in WWII.

by Inez Hollander This week we received an e-mail from Mindy Kotler at the Asia Policy Point in Washington DC, concerning Japan’s continued historical revisionism with regard to slave labor by POWs at Japan’s foremost industrial sites. The Indo Project is joining a number of POW-organizations in writing a letter…

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An Evening with TIP: Recap.

By Jamie Stern On Tuesday evening, May 26th, 2015, the Crystal Cove auditorium at UC Irvine filled with guests eager to visit with each other and enjoy the evening’s presentations. This was a very special event, because The Indo Project (TIP) was holding its Second Annual Lecture Series, titled, An…

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Save the Date: May 26th Screening of The Railway Man.

Join us for the 2nd annual event by The Indo Project at the University of California Irvine. Based on his best-selling memoir, The Railway Man tells the extraordinary and epic true story of Eric Lomax, a British Army officer who is tormented as a prisoner of war at a Japanese…

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On Wooden Shoes Through the Dessa

A Book  Review of Op klompen door de dessa by Hylke Speerstra (Amsterdam: Atlas, 2015) When growing up in The Netherlands, I never realized that part of my family history ran parallel with the rise and demise of the Dutch East Indies. I explored the colonial part of that history…

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Share this news about the Burma-Thailand Railway Compensation.

Share this news about the Burma-Thailand Railway Compensation. Are you a descendant of the men who worked on the railway line or died on the way there? Please check the name lists and if you see your father’s or grandfather’s name, write to Task Force Indische Rechtsherstel at tfirsecretariaat@ziggo.nl These are…

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The Worldwide Indo Challenge: April Results!

Tuesday, May 5, 2015 By Jamie Stern The Indo community is making great progress in geographically mapping our population! So far, through The Worldwide Indo Challenge , The Indo Project has heard from 728 Indos.  Check out our interactive map to see where Indo populations are being located. Each point…

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THE WORLDWIDE INDO CHALLENGE.

Strength—Bravery—Loyalty—Love—Family—You are an Indo. Are you ready for the Challenge? We’re on a mission to map our dynamic worldwide Indo community. Take the challenge…stand up and be counted!  The Indo Project has set out to show the world that our culture and history is dynamic, interesting and relevant. Who we…

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Have you signed the petition yet?

Jan 10, 2015 — This is a special message for the readers who have not signed our petition yet… This week I received a powerful e-mail from a survivor who allowed me to quote him here (be forewarned, this is graphic): “When father had already been rounded up by the Japanese,…

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Activities Snapshots 2012.

The annual Wapenbroeders Christmas ball was held once again at the Swiss Park in Whittier. After the welcome speech of the President. Eleonore Bosman, the guest of honor Ard van der Vorst, the newly appointed Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands,

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Our Indo Tree.

The Indo Project  Team thanks you for your support during an incredible year of growth. Most of us who have our roots in the former Dutch East Indies recognize the importance of keeping our history and culture alive.  A constant reminder of this are the letters and emails you send…

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Indo Dutch Food Culture.

By Jeff Keasberry As of this month we are adding a new category to our TIP site: Food.  Eating and cooking are at the core of our culture and talking about it equally so. The objective is not to create another recipe box per se, as there are plenty of…

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Indos are WorldWide.

by Jamie Stern  Here at The Indo Project we’re busy working on the next phase of our groundbreaking research–mapping today’s Indo population. We have a brand new challenge for the Indo community. We’re aiming to map the worldwide Indo population. All information shared with TIP is 100% safe, anonymous, and…

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Poem: A Child of Two Cultures (Kind van Twee Culturen).

  Photo by Andrea Gruber Matthies   This very passionate, heart-rending poem was written by Mrs. G. Stern-Dossin (December 6, 1918 – February 24, 2005). We don’t know when and where it was first published but it re-appeared in the original Dutch version on the Indisch4Ever site in 2011. What…

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Happy Oma & Opa Day!

By Jamie Stern Photo: Jamie as a toddler with her Mother, Oma, Opa and Tante – 1989. Congratulations to all the new grandparents this year and to all the grandparents who received more grandbabies!  The Indo Project’s very own newsletter editor, Ingrid McCleary, is celebrating her new grandson, Baby Ben.…

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To Remember: My Oma’s Story

By Sierra Jacob. What of the children? Once resting swollen in our wombs, the weight we carried between the yawning of our hips. Tasting the salt air like we did, pushed up against the hunched horizon in liberation ships to Holland—to Australia—to the United States. How we thought we could…

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MEMORIAL – HERDENKINGSCEREMONIE 2014.

The annual memorial was held in Los Angeles on August 9, 2014. On this day we remembered and honored the fallen of the Dutch East Indies forces and civilians (men, women and children) during the Japanese occupation during WWII in South East Asia and during the bersiap period. Welcoming word…

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Displaced Indo Europeans are still owed millions.

By Lidy Nicolase – March 18, 2014. Translation of Article in the Volkskran.nl The Netherlands government still owes millions of euros to 380,000 Dutch people who had to flee Indonesia between 1950 and 1970. Banks, as well as insurance companies, also have enormous debts to redeem. A substantial part of…

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“Kiss me I’m Indo and Irish!”

By Jamie Stern Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Let’s all celebrate with the Irish! Interestingly, among our TIP supporters we have discovered at least 30 of our constituents are Irish and Indo mixes. And it’s likely that we have plenty more out there! Meanwhile, the rest of us can make-believe that…

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Happy Valentine’s Day.

by Jamie Stern Love is universal—but we already know that! This isn’t something new—it’s been around for a very long time. We know that love enriches lives. We know that love sometimes complicates lives! And still we gravitate toward love because it makes life more fun, more interesting, more comforting…

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A Brief History of the Dutch East Indies Part 2: Before the VOC.

By Kathryn Pentecost Indonesia is known as the world’s most populace Muslim nation and its cultural history is richly diverse. Throughout their history, Indonesians have been influenced by a diversity of religious and cultural influences, (though some commentators today fear that the country is becoming a less tolerant place) (Vltchek,…

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Want to know what the CIA thought of the Linggajati Agreement?

Read this formerly secret document from the CIA… READ ABOUT IT IN OUR  FALL/WINTER 2013 NEWSLETTER.   To sign up for our  future newsletters:  Click here Check out our recently published newsletters.  It may take about 10-15 seconds to load the pdf. TIP FALL/WINTER 2013 NEWSLETTER TIP SUMMER 2013 NEWSLETTER TIP…

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THE DUTCH ARE THE EUROPEAN CHAMPION IN SENDING CHRISTMAS CARDS

Last December Dutch Postal Service (PostNL) research showed 90% of Dutch households send an average of 40 cards 6 December 2012 – The Hague – Sending Christmas cards is an old tradition and undeniably contributes to the spirit of Christmas and New Year. PostNL compared the traditions surrounding the sending…

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My Personal Hotel Rwanda

By Inez Hollander, Ph.D When Fré Francken and the other evacuees mounted the flatbed truck in the Gubeng neighborhood of Surabaya, she had only one thing on her mind; return to the Netherlands as fast as possible, away from years of starvation in the Japanese internment camps and sadly, away…

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SPECIAL CALL TO FORMER POWS WHO WORKED AT THE BURMA RAILWAY.

The new book ‘Welcomed by the Smell of Endive’ by Dutch journalist Griselda Molemans (due on March 21, 2014) highlights the true story of how the group of 380,000 displaced persons from the former Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) were received in The Netherlands. Between 1950 and 1970, these Dutch…

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Brief History of Dutch East Indies

A Brief History of the Dutch East Indies – Part 1.

By Kathryn Pentecost Introduction In this series of monthly essays, I hope to help the readers understand the great complexity that is the story of the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. I write as both an ‘insider’ (an Indo) and an ‘outsider’ (an Australian). Having just completed my PhD on…

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Kumis Kucing through the ages.

Under this heading I submitted a rather extended essay to MOESSON in the Netherlands. It was published in the December 1985 and January 1986 edition and I received several inquiries from the public at that time. This is a short summary of that article.  Kumis kucing, remoedjoeng, cat’s whiskers or…

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‘MURDER OF (INDIES) DUTCH IS GENOCIDE’.

RIJSWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS – The wave of ethnic violence in the Dutch East Indies that started in 1945, has been regretfully relegated to the background by the Netherlands. The murder of thousands of (Indies) Dutch during the Bersiap period, has always been tentatively accepted, “while it can best be defined…

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Where are the Indos today? Results from the 2012 Indo Survey.

By Jamie D. Stern, Director of Research The Indo Project is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and celebration of Indo culture and history through education and raising public awareness.  We present information that allows the world to see that we are an identifiable people, despite our world-wide dispersion due to…

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FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE BOOK: FAREWELL TO THE INDIES.

Farewell to the Indies (translation of Weg uit Indië, published in 2012 in the Netherlands) tells about the adventures of two ten-year-old children during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies in World War 2 and the ‘bersiap’ period that followed. It is written for all ages from ten…

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The Indo Project Video Workshop.

Conducted by Videographer Ben von Stockhausen   Sign Up For a Free One-Day Workshop   INTRODUCTION The collection of personal stories from the elders in our community is one of the main initiatives of The Indo Project.  Personal historical diaries bring Indo History to life.  We encourage Indo families to…

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Bersiap

Extremists Run Amok Against Indische-Nederlanders.

The following is purported to be the only written testimony about the Bersiap that has been discovered thus far. It is noted as a source in the English Wikipedia about the Bersiap. Who will now help our own refugees? Translated from an article in De Haagsche Post published on 4…

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68 YEARS AGO – SEPTEMBER 2, 1945.

Although the end of Japan’s WWII occupation of the former Dutch East Indies is celebrated on August 15th (V-J Day), it was on September 2, 1945, more than two weeks later, when the official ceremony of Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces was held on the United States Navy battleship USS Missouri.…

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Indo pride celebration at Florida Kumpulan.

On April 27, 2013, The Indo Project held its third Florida Kumpulan.  In excess of 100 people attended.  Needless to say, there was lots of good food, music, dancing and getting re-acquainted with old friends.  Drawing prizes included spekkoek, Bols jenever and several baskets filled with Dutch and Indo goodies,…

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Childhood friends reunite after 70 years.

Willem Nijholt’s childhood, like Ilse Evelijn Veere Smit’s, was cut short when the Japanese invaded his homeland, the DutchEast Indies. Like Ilse, he survived the war years in a concentration camp and the revolution that came after.  Like Ilse, he repatriated to the Netherlands and built a new life. But Willem never…

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Why Memorial On 15th Of August?

The Netherlands was liberated on May 5th, 1945. On that date, however, there was no liberation of the Dutch East Indies, a former colony of The Netherlands.  The Japanese continued to occupy the Dutch East Indies, as well as other parts of Asia, for months, after the liberation of Europe. …

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Comite 15 Augustus 1945 – memorial ceremonies California 2013.

This year’s annual memorial ceremony was presented once again by the ‘Comité 15 augustus 1945′ under the auspices of the Nederlandse Veteranen Vereniging Wapenbroeders USA. Last Saturday, August 10, 2013, a group of about 50 people came together at the Los Angeles National Cemetery.  The President, Mr. Auke Mensink, welcomed  the attendees…

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Statue honoring the Comfort Women.

The following blog is a difficult one to read. For the author, Ingrid Keizer Wilson, it proved to be an emotional roller coaster where horror, both real and imagined, joined forces in her mind. Read all about it in our Summer Newsletter 2013. Sign up and tell your friends and family…

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An Indo ‘Doddy’ in Real Life and in Fiction.

Author: Kathryn Pentecost © 2013               The following is a story about my great-aunt Doddy. Was she named after Louis Couperus’s Doddy in his famous novel, De Stille Kracht (The Hidden Force), I ask myself? If not, then there are still many parallels about her and the novel’s character, who…

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Sign Up for the Newsletter.

SPECIAL SPECIAL – READ ALL ABOUT IT! Once you sign up for the quarterly Indo Project Newsletter, you will get exclusive news items and  informative pieces on different kinds of subject delivered directly to your inbox.  Not published on our website for two weeks; you get to read it first.…

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Indo Jan Krancher returns to his birth land Indonesia

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, INDONESIA 1983 – PART II

Second article chronicling The Indo Project Board Member Emeritus Jan Krancher as he takes a sentimental journey back to his birth land Indonesia. By Jan Krancher, 24 June 2013. After this nostalgic visit, we took a quick drive-by in town to the former residence of Harry Klaare, one of Oma…

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Indo Jan Krancher returns to his birth land Indonesia

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, INDONESIA 1983 – PART I

Travel with The Indo Project Board Member Emeritus as he takes a sentimental journey back to his birth land Indonesia, part one of two. By Jan A. Krancher – June 17, 2013 Since my emigration to the United States in the early 1960s, I always have had the urge to…

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Keep the Tropenmuseum Open.

For those of you not in the know, the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam and the Royal Tropical Institute house a plethora of displays and information about the former Dutch East Indies.  This has everything to do with our heritage as Indo’s. The fact that the Dutch government has announced severe budget…

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Imagined Communities in Cyberspace*.

By Kathryn Pentecost ©2013  ‘Communities can be distinguished, not by their falsity/genuineness, but by the style in which they are imagined’. (Benedict Anderson, 1991:6) On 17 August 1945, after over three hundred years of Dutch colonial rule, (and several years of the British interregnum 1811-1816), Indonesia was proclaimed ‘merdeka’ (independent)…

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Too Late to Ask Is Worse Than Afraid to Ask.

By Inez Hollander – June 3, 2013. My mother strongly advised against it. Everyone in my family knew that her cousin, Harry, had seen horrors during the war in the Dutch East Indies that neither he nor his mother, ever talked about it in private or public. As a family,…

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Photo Seeks Family.

An attempt to find the rightful owners of 335 photo albums from former Dutch East Indies, has resulted in 9 families getting their albums back. Check the following website in Dutch: http://www.fotozoektfamilie.nl We translated the first part: Your help is needed in our search for the rightful owners of the…

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Film Raw Herring – World Premiere in NY.

By Margaret Laurens Dutch filmmakers Hetty Naaijkens Retel Helmrich and Leonard Retel Helmrich were in New York at the TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL, April 18,2013 to attend the World Premiere of their first collaborative directorial effort, “RAW HERRING” (or as it is called under its Dutch title, “NIEUWE HARING”).  The film…

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Queen’s Day celebration in the former Dutch East Indies.

Queens Day (Koninginnedag in Dutch) is the most beloved and anticipated national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It’s celebrated on April 30 to commemorate the birthday of the country’s (former) Queen and a symbol of national unity. The entire country has festivities and in Amsterdam in particular, the…

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FROM STOWAWAY TO NAVAL CADET.

By Walter Ben von Stockhausen, April 2013 In the period of 1957-1958, a major migration of Dutch Indonesians from Indonesia to the Netherlands took place.  The major cause for this was the worsening political climate for the Dutch and Dutch Indonesians living in Indonesia primarily orchestrated by the first president…

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The Battle of the Java Sea.

The Battle of the Java Sea—The Fall of the Netherlands East Indies, February 27, 1942 By Margaret Laurens                                                                …

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INDIES MEMOIRES WRITTEN FROM THE EMERALD ISLE.

By Louise Rouwhof-Krancher. Jan 12, 2013. I was encouraged by my brother Jan A. Krancher who lives in the US, to commit some of my Indies memoires to paper. He is an author in his own right and has compiled and edited 24 stories in 1996 in a book on…

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How to expel wind when you have masuk angin.

By Jan A. Krancher, PhD. Jan. 8, 2013 Have you ever been conned?  I am sure you have, at least once in your lifetime, as I have, and I won’t tell you how often.  But here I am not referring to being “conned” but rather being “coined.”  It is the…

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Happy New Year

We want to wish the Indo community a wonderful New Year! Our 2013 New Year’s wish is that together: 1.      we continue to uphold and honor the legacy of our parents and grandparents by actively keeping Indo culture and history alive through education and raising awareness. 2. we show the world…

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Indos on the plains.

Ingrid’s parents, Gerard and Netty and her older brothers, Erik and Ferry   I would like to share an article submitted by my friend, Ingrid Keizer Wilson, who has begun the journey of learning more about her Indo roots.  Born in Kansas, where her parents ended up after repatriation to…

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Nutmeg: A Spice with a Secret That Isn’t So Nice.

Photo by Thinkstock   BY JAN CHO It’s a spice whose aroma evokes warm memories of the holidays for many — baked into pumpkin pies, kneaded into sausages and sprinkled atop mugs of eggnog. It has a pungent, earthy and slightly sweet taste, making it versatile for use in a…

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GLODOK PRISON During WW II.

By Kareen Richard The “Glodok Affair” is a little known chapter in the events that occurred during World War II in the Dutch East Indies. In mid-1944, a man named Piet Hein van den Eeckhout was released from the Japanese Civilian camp in Tjimahi because he vocalized his pro-Japanese feelings. …

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Jamie Stern – Indo Survey Update.

Indo profile by Jeff Keasberry “We weren’t alone. There were many more like us, and knowing this brought about a sudden comfort that filled a void from all these years of confusion and isolation,” said Jamie Stern, 3rd generation Indo, when she came to find out that there’s a name for her…

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THE INDO PROJECT 2nd INDO PRIDE KUMPULAN IN FLORIDA.

We are excited to report that on Saturday, November 10, 2012 over 125 people of Dutch Indonesian descent (Indos) gathered for a Kumpulan (gathering) in Spring Hill, Florida.  The event was organized by The Indo Project and was the second one held this year at the same location.  Although most…

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Save the date: Saturday Oct. 20th 2012

If you were born and raised in the USA and your grandparents left the former Netherlands East Indies as adults, then you are probably 3rd generation Indo. If so, then this event is for you.  The event theme of INDO USA GEN 3 is: REAWAKEN (the Indo within), RECONNECT (with…

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Special call to emigrants from the former Dutch-Indies

Special call to emigrants from the former Dutch-Indies who departed to the US under provisions of the Pastore-Walter Act (1958-1962) In May 2013,  “Opgevangen in andijvielucht,” the new book by journalist Griselda Molemans, will be published on the reception of approximately 350,000 refugees from the former Dutch East Indies in…

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The Indo Project - Batik and Cobek

The Batik and the Cobek

Read as an Indo refugee treasures prized possessions from Indonesia as her family repatriates to the Netherlands and then eventually immigrated to the USA. Like many other Dutch-Indonesian refugees, our family took only a few meager possessions with us when we made the journey across the Atlantic from Holland to…

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Indo Tamara Fielding shares love of shadow puppets

Tamara Fieldings Wajang World.

Tamara Fielding was recently featured in an article in the Jakarta Globe, titled ‘Taking Wayang to the World Stage. You can find the article here:  http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/arts/taking-wayang-to-the-world-stage/524694. Tamara will be going to the Indo Heritage Fest August 11, 2012.  

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BRIDGING THE GAP IN DUTCH-INDONESIAN GENEALOGY.

When the Dutch government eventually granted independence to their former colony, the Dutch (Netherland) East Indies in 1949, a large community of some 200,000 Indos were forced to find a new homeland.  They were the offspring (descendants) of former Dutch and other European settlers, who often intermarried with women of…

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My Oom Bert Simon

A recent article in “De Java Post” about Oom Bert Simon, started me thinking.  Oom Bert was one of eight children; I don’t remember if he was the 3rd or 4th child.  He was very popular with the Indo/Indonesian community in Holland, as he was Station Manger for Garuda Indonesian…

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INDO PRIDE

Yo Indo! Get the button. Either at our booth at the 23rd Holland Festival on Sunday, May 27th or by mail-order. Make a Donation, Pin it, and wear it with Pride!

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Welcome to our NEW Website.

Welcome to our new website. May 2012 is the month of new and exiting things for The Indo Project. We launch our new website and some board members will get to meet the Indo Community at the Holland Festival in Long Beach May 27, 2012. We continuously evolve to better…

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Ilse Smit and Dorothy Read at the Holland Festival.

The account of one East Dutch Indies family’s survival during World War II and the Indonesian Revolution is the subject of this edition of Dialogue. Joan Cartan-Hansen interviews sisters Ilse Evelijn Veere Smit and Edith Evelijn Veere, who survived the two atrocities, as well as author Dorothy Read, who helps…

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Meet TIP @ 23rd Holland Festival Long Beach Calif.

Once again the Dutch and Indo community of greater Los Angeles are coming together to celebrate their shared cultural heritage.  The Holland Festival in Long Beach has become an annual reunion for many families, who bring their blankets and picnic folding chairs to sit on the lawn.  Different vendors selling…

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2012 INDO SURVEY

May 8th, 2012 Ethnographic Research on The Indo Diaspora Hello Indo community and supporters! This is Jamie Stern, and a lot has happened in the year-and-a-half since you kindly responded to my first survey. To those who are unfamiliar with the first survey, you may view the results here:  Dutch-Indonesian…

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Read All About It.

This is a heads up on the launch of our new website. The Indo Project will officially launch its site on May 25, 2012.

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Opa: Dutch for Hero.

By Jason A. Dixon, grandson   Name: Richard E. Coert Born:   October 5, 1922, Dutch East Indies Died:   October 17, 2003, California, USA POW:   Burma-Siam Railway Richard E. Coert was born in 1922 in what is now Indonesia, where he grew up.  He dreamed of becoming a…

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A Moment.

By Maja S. Mortensen Nanning Life Changing Moments in America Keeshonden (The national dog of the Netherlands) are part of our family. A  Korean veterinarian who completed his internship in the Netherlands opened a practice in town. His experience and medical knowledge made us loyal clients. During the 14-year span…

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Sumatra Railway.

By Jan Krancher Book:  Ambushed under the Southern Cross Author:  Capt. George W. Duffy Highly decorated Capt. George W. Duffy has authored the book “Ambushed under the Southern Cross . . . The Making of an American Merchant Marine Officer and His Ensuing Saga of Courage and Survival”.  Among several…

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Animated Map.

  This is a remarkable web site called Pacific War Animated.  How did the war end up in the Dutch East Indies ?  With dramatic music in the background, you can follow the progression of invading Japanese forces (link below).  At the bottom is a red arrow pointing to each…

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Pearl Harbor Remembered

By Bianca Dias-Halpert USS Wichita (CA-45)  Ship’s Chief Petty Officers listen to the radio broadcast of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to the Congress requesting a declaration of War against the Axis powers, circa 8 December 1941.  Note photograph of President Roosevelt on the bulkhead. The Good and the Bad…

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The Last Nyonya.

By Bianca Dias-Halpert, Washington, USA An article appeared in the magazine NOW! Bali August 2010 about a Dutch lady who has lived in Indonesia her entire life.  They were kind enough to let me share their findings with you readers. Milly On the outside she looks Dutch but on the…

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Wartime Humanity.

By Joyce Kater, New Mexico, USA LITTLE MOMENTS OF HUMANITY AT WARTIME   Although this incident happened a lifetime ago in the Second World War in South East Asia, it still lingers in my memory.  It took place in the months before our family was torn apart and put in different…

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Grocery Stores

By Bianca Dias-Halpert, Washington, USA The Power of a Grocery Store A new environment, new food, new customs and everything familiar left behind.  We usually do not think of a grocery store as being significant in our daily routine.  But when you find one that has the ingredients of the…

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The Band.

As told by Robin Kalhorn, Texas, USA Date: Circa 1938.  Place: Java (most likely Surabaya, perhaps Malang).  Event:  John Kiliaan and His Band promotional appearance at a Studebaker dealership.  Band leader Kiliaan is the man with the saxophone, resting his foot on the base drum. Editor’s Note:  Robin Kalhorn has…

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Young Family.

As told by Carol Ann Von Kristeinberg, Mallorca, Spain This photo was taken in Djakarta at the Jl. Gunung Sahari, our home, around 1951. I was 3 years old and my sister was 4. I was born in Djatinegara, my sister in Djakarta, my mother in Makassar and my Dad…

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The Van Gils

As told by Friedje van Gils of New Mexico, USA In the late 1950’s the Van Gils family arrived in the USA starting off in Akron, Ohio and eventually spreading out all over the country.  They arrived with a group of friends and family.   There was a “Dutch Club…

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Beach and Wedding Photo.

As told by Carol Norwood of Pennsylvania, USA The photo from the home page slideshow is of Carol Norwood’s mother named Cita at the age of 2 in January of 1930.  They were walking with their baboe (nanny) with mother and baby. Carol’s German grandfather worked for a Dutch company…

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Genealogy.

By Bianca Dias-Halpert, Washington, USA Several years ago I received a big envelope with old family photos from a tante (aunt) in Holland.  She had been researching our family geneology and heard that I was interested.  I never knew this tante until we met in 2005.   All the children…

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Australian Indofest.

Kathryn Pentecost is currently a PhD student in the School of Communications, International Studies and Languages at the University of South Australia, Magill Campus. This is her first contribution as a guest author for our web site blog. For the last three years, Rymill Park in Adelaide, South Australia has…

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Guidebook for American Soldiers in the Pacific War.

I became more aware of the American connection when I purchased a 77-page booklet titled “Instructions for American Serviceman in Dutch Indonesia during World War II” by the Dutch publishing house Elsevier. From the very beginning of the Japanese dream of conquering the land and people of Asia, they recognized the…

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Indo Book Highlight: The Social World of Batavia

By Calvin Sidjaja, Jakarta, Indonesia Title: Social World of Batavia: Europeans and Eurasians in Colonial Indonesia Author:  Jean Taylor Gilman ISBN-10: 0299094707 ISBN-13: 978-0299094706 This is probably one of the most complete literature of Dutch-Indonesians you could find. Written in readable language, this book contains valuable information for any Dutch-Indonesian…

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Welcome to The Indo Project Blog

Welcome to the heart beat of  The Indo Project web site.  Together we will explore the amazing journey of our community which originated in the Dutch East Indies. There are countless stories to share and new discoveries to be found.  The purpose of the blog is to reflect, share and…

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