TIP’s Top Stories Centered on Identity, Heritage, and Resilience
As the year draws to a close, we’re looking back at the stories that resonated most with our readers. Our top five articles reveal a profound interest in Indo identity, spanning everything from deeply personal contemporary journeys to the challenging yet rewarding work of genealogy and historical survival.
Here are the stories that topped TIP’s charts:
#5 Florida Kumpulan Starting Up Again
Our fifth most-read article featured the restart of kumpulans in Florida. After a hiatus due to the COVID lockdown, The Indo Project Florida Kumpulans has started up again! On February 15, 2025, Florida TIP Kumpulan was held in Longwood, Florida, at the St. Stephen’s Church, and it was a great success!
#4 Indische Genealogical Society
Focusing on the search for roots, the fourth top story served as a vital guide. It highlighted the extensive resources available on the IGV genealogy website for those with roots in the Dutch East Indies, making the process of connecting with the past more accessible.
#3 Discover Your Roots
Rounding out our genealogy focus, our third top story written by TIP board member Willem-Jan Brederode, dove into the real-world difficulties of researching one’s Indo roots through genealogical work.
#2 Accused of Cultural Appropriation
A truly hot topic this year, our second-highest-ranking story, Accused of Cultural Appropriation: My Journey with Indo Cuisine, by TIP’s very own Jeff Keasberry tackled the sensitive subject of cultural appropriation as it relates to Indo cuisine.
#1 Indo Hero’s Harrowing Survival Story
Our most-read story of the year was a powerful, unforgettable, three-part series. It detailed the life of the Indo luminary, Edward Frietman, focusing on his incredible childhood survival. The series chronicled his harrowing experiences during WWII and the dangerous Bersiap period, reminding us of the resilience and enduring spirit of the Indo people. You can revisit all three articles in the series:
Don’t Miss Out!
Catch up on stories covering everything from Indo gatherings and literature to personal stories about growing up mixed-race and the dark history of “Zwarte Sinterklaas” in 1957. Don’t miss these essential reads!
6 – Life of a Second Generation Indo
7 – Denver Dutch Indo Group Gathers for Fellowship and Holiday Planning
8 – Book Review – The Sun in His Eyes
9 – Indo Profile: Charles Douw van der Krap – Forgotten War Hero
10 – Growing Up in a Mixed Race Family
11 – Zwarte Sinterklaas – When the Sinterklaas Season Turned Black
Top News Stories of the Year: Community, Heritage, and Remembrance
This year, our most impactful stories centered on the strength and connection of the community, highlighted by TIP’s events where we were thrilled to engage with our devoted followers and supporters. Here’s a look at the news that resonated most:
#5 History of August 15 Commemoration
#4 AVIO Receives Lifetime Achievement
Our fourth top story, Honoring the Legacy of The AVIO, celebrated the invaluable contribution of The AVIO, which received TIP’s Lifetime Indo Achievement award. This article provided a deep historical dive into how the organization has served the Southern California Indo community for decades, preserving culture and camaraderie.
#3 Standing in Solidarity
Our third most-read article focused on a challenging start to the year. In January 2025, our hearts went out to everyone affected by the devastating Southern California wildfires. TIP stood in solidarity with friends, families, and all those in Los Angeles who lost homes, businesses, or loved ones.
#2 Connecting at the 35th Holland Festival
The excitement of the 35th Holland Festival secured the number two spot. We enjoyed meeting so many followers and making new friends at this vibrant gathering.
#1 80th Anniversary of End of WW2 in Pacific
The most compelling stories of the year centered on history and remembrance. With the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in the Pacific, TIP’s top articles related to Herdenking Commemoration drew the highest interest from our followers, ensuring that the critical history and memory of that era are preserved. Check out all our Herdenking-related stories and other top news items in our archive!
Podcast
For Episode 6, TIP tackles a huge question: How does Indonesia remember the revolution and independence struggle of 1945–1949? What stories are told, and which are suppressed? Join us as we explore the nation’s historical memory with expert Arnoud Arps, a scholar focused on how popular culture shapes our understanding of the past. Revisit all of The Indo Project’s podcasts.
Blue Skies, Troubled Waters Book Event
The Deco in Los Angeles hosted a book signing party on March 30, 2025, for Brian Kimmel, presented by SoCal Indo and The Indo Project. Kimmel, a multiheritage Indonesian American and grandson of author Martha Walandouw Lohn, co-authored her memoir Blue Skies, Troubled Waters and edited its first Indonesian-language edition. A poet, musician, educator, and mental health counselor based in Seattle, Kimmel explores storytelling across disciplines. Blue Skies, Troubled Waters recounts the true story of twin sisters Ath and Kath, deported from New Jersey to Indonesia and later imprisoned as civilian POWs during World War II, highlighting resilience, family strength, and lived history.
In Memorium
Yvonne Keuls
We honor the life and legacy of Yvonne Keuls (1932–2025), a Dutch-Indo author whose work gave voice to postwar struggles and resilience, drawing deeply from her Indo heritage across more than 98 novels, plays, and adaptations. Born in the final years of the Dutch East Indies, she used literature to confront inequality, family hardship, and social injustice, most notably in Het verrotte leven van Floortje Bloem (1972), which sparked national conversations about vulnerable youth. A moral force in Dutch literature and a bridge between cultures for the Indo community, she remained engaged in remembrance and community life until her passing on November 16, 2025, in The Hague, leaving a lasting legacy of truth, memory, and heritage.
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