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. The (National) Memorial festivities on May 4th in the Netherlands is specifically associated to the consequences of the war against Nazi Germany. The following day, May 5th is a festive celebration of the liberation from the Nazi occupiers. Since World War II in the Dutch East Indies developed much differently than in The Netherlands, the memorial celebrations on May 4th and 5th in The Netherlands do not resonate with the people in their former colony.
Capitulation
It was several months later, on August 15th, 1945 when the war in the Dutch East Indies came to an end with the capitulation of Japan. Whereas in The Netherlands, there were celebrations when the war ended earlier in May, it was not so for their former colony. When Japan capitulated, there were no allied troops that marched triumphantly into the Dutch-Indies. On the contrary, the Japanese soldiers were ordered to keep the peace and order until the allied forces could take over power. During the vacuum of power, two days after the surrender of Japan on August 17, 1945, an influential group of Indonesians under pressure from their young followers decided to declare Indonesia’s independence from both The Netherlands and Japan. As a result, Indonesian forces began to make every effort to get weapons from the Japanese army. This was to avoid the Dutch regaining their former dominance. The beginning of the revolution for Indonesia’s independence was accompanied by much violence. Many Dutch and Dutch Indonesians who had been kept in concentration camps by the Japanese or had managed to survive outside the camps, including Indo-Europeans and Chinese, ended up in concentration camps now under the regime of Indonesian “freedom fighters”.
Independence
The revolution eventually led to the independence of Indonesia on December 27, 1949 from Dutch rule. As a result, many were forced to choose between The Netherlands and Indonesia. A choice between staying and leaving. In the years following 1945, hundreds of thousands of people were therefore forced to repatriate to The Netherlands. Some 300,000 people from Indonesia came to The Netherlands during the sixties. Many had never been to The Netherlands and had their roots in the former Dutch Indies. Among them, Dutch, Indo-Europeans (“Eurasians”) and groups of Ambonese from the Molukken and Chinese. Despite the repatriates’ (often dramatic) war history, it was made clear to them upon arrival that The Netherlands had gone through their “own” war, and that there was no room for stories about “that distant Asian war”. Due to these traumatic developments, the end of the World War II did not herald a period of recovery for many people from the Dutch East Indies, but rather appears to be a marker of progressive losses: Of possessions, status and country of birth. Sometimes even identity. In short, a complete loss of their way of life. There is nothing left to do for those involved but to adapt as quickly and quietly as possible to the prevailing culture in the new fatherland that included using their own “Indies” work ethic, namely by working extra hard.
Commemorate and Meet
Every year, on the 15th of August is the day when all these major events can be commemorated by people with a shared “Indies” background, those with roots in the former Dutch East Indies.. The first commemoration was held in 1970, in The Hague by the initiative of ir. G.S. Vrijburg with then Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus present. In 1980, the “Foundation Memorial August 15, 1945” was founded with His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard as Patron to organize an annual memorial and meeting. In that year, a grand memorial in the presence of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus took place. Since then a commemoration is organized at different locations in The Netherlands on August 15th. The official ‘Indisch Monument’ located on the Professor Teldersweg in The Hague was unveiled in 1988 by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix that finally provided the Indies community with its own monument, where loved ones who have since perished can be commemorated annually. This monument symbolizes the suffering of all compatriots in Asia during World War II.
Paying tribute
In 1999, the Dutch cabinet, led by President Kok, recognized August 15, 1945 as the official end of World War II for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. From that moment on, that day is flagged on all government buildings and the media devotes airtime to this event. Many of the generation who have actually experienced the Second World War in Asia are now deceased. Nevertheless, the annual Memorial activities on August 15 are well attended. For many participants it is an opportunity to reflect on their own memories of that period as well as to pay tribute to loved ones who did not survive this period. Young people come in increasing numbers to the Memorial activities. They come, often invited by their parents or grandparents but also from their own curiosity wanting to know more about their “roots” as well as out of respect for their (grand) parents. There is a need to hear stories that their own parents and grandparents have (still) not told or have not dared to tell. There appears to be a growing need among the younger generation for personal stories about that period. To better understand their own history as well as of their (grand)parents. Memorial activities are annually attended by representatives of the Dutch government and those of their former allies during World War II. This shows commitment to and recognizes the importance of the Memorial of August 15, 1945.
Translation of: http://www.indieherdenking.nl/cms/publish/content/showpage.asp?pageid=27
Photo: Den Haag, Prof. Teldersweg, Scheveningse Bosjes. Indisch monument van Jaroslawa Dankowa. 1989. The Hague/The Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository.
Der Theo van Rysewyk – Our most sincere appreciation to heroes like your father and many like him who served in the KNIL and to those who gave their lives defending the former Dutch East Indies. They deserve our respect and honor of their service.
My father Franciscus Geradus can Rijsewijk served in this “period”
hi,
it says “Many Dutch and Dutch Indonesians who had been kept in concentration camps by the Japanese or had managed to survive outside the camps, including Indo-Europeans and Chinese, ended up in concentration camps now under the regime of Indonesian “freedom fighters”.” However the Japanese and English protected the camps against The Indonesin freedom fighters. But many Dutch and Indos especially women and children were brutally slaughtered outside these camps in what was called the Bersibap period. Details are too hortible to describe here but read the very emotional and beautiful account of this and other matters in ‘ Asta’s Ogen’ a must read for all Indos and people with an interest in what is an underexposed and often unknown important period in Dutch and Indonesian history.
just one little correction Helmuth? the time after the japanse occupation? is: the bersiap.. and also the outside of the camps living civilians have suffered during the japanese occupation and the Bersiap time. Maybe you are not as familiar with this? which is presently being opened up in the Netherlands.. Can see on NPO at the link: Missed programs.. the newest documentary: Buitenkampers. Today we remember not just the ones imprisoned in the camps but also the outer-camp women and children whose husbands died in the camps and those who husbands died just at the start of that war..
Greets from brush in Canada.. I rember that time of my childhood with all the razzias by the Romusha, Indonesian Youths trained by the Japanese during the occupation to harrass the indos outside of the camps.. and murdered many.. AND by the Japanese themselves who did those razzias..
Stories which are NOW coming into the open..