Their ethnical origin is of a mixed kind: a combination of Indonesian influences and Dutch influences. In the colonial times in the Dutch East-Indies the Indies people lived between the original inhabitants of Indonesia and the Dutch upperclass. Because they were familiar to the Indonesians much of the Eurasian culture has been influenced by the Indonesians . In common life superstition, the way they dressed and talked was simular to the Indonesian way of life. Eurasians from the Dutch East-Indies are breeds of Asiatic mothers and European fathers. In the 18th century that culture was called "mestiezenculture". Later on was spoken of Indo-Europeans or 'Indo's' (the word 'Indo' had a negative sound). These days it is common to speak of the Dutch East-Indies people. In the English literature we speak of 'Eurasians' .
During the colonial times, especially during the short period of British policy in the East-Indies (1811-1816), Eurasian people were pressed to behave as Europeans. The British preferred that the Eurasian women dressed no longer in 'sarong and kabaja' but in European dresses and a marriage with people from Europe was preferred. Also afther the British period there was more and more pression on the Eurasians from the Dutch. Important social positions were only for people who were born in Holland and studied in Holland. In several large cities Eurasians had no chance to get a good job. But elsewhere in the countryside of Indonesia Eurasian families became managers of plantions of tea, coffee or sugar. At the beginning of the 20th century more and more European woman came to the Dutch East-Indies which had great influence.
The Dutch East-Indies diaspora
After the Second World War Indonesia became independent in 1949. A lot of Eurasians than chose to travel to Holland and stay there. A small group went to New-Guinea but the circumstances there were bad. Because of the 'colour-bar' most of the other countries did not allow coloured people to immigrate.The only exception was the United States.
The Indonesian gouvernement let the Indies people chose to become a citizen of Indonesia (warga negara) or return to Holland. After 1949 they had two years to decide. Only a small group definitely did choose for that option, but later on most of them realised their social position between the Indonesians was bad and they went to Holland . About 300.000 Eurasians from the Dutch East-Indies came to Holland and made a new future there.
The first years in Holland
Most of the Eurians who came here were willing to adjust themselves in the new country. Most people first were received in 'contractboardinghouses' but the Dutch governement only gave houses if they did behave themselves as new Europeans.
During that period (1950-55) the Dutch thought that cultural differences was the same thing as cultural arrears.
A situation of constant adaptation has the effect that people deny their Asian history and backround. When no one is interested and want to listen to your story, you keep things for yourself. Childeren of the first geneation Eurasian people in Holland have often problems with the "silence" of their parents when they want to speak of the past. The War with Japan has also had bad influence on them. In the Netherlands it took 40 years to get a good picture of what was happened in the Dutch East-Indies during that war.
The telepathic vision of Jan Boon (Tjalie Robinson)
Jan Boon (1911-1974) was a male Eurasian who recognized in the first years when Eurasians came to Holland that it was very important for them to keep there own cultural identity. The cultural identity of the Eurasians was an important subject.
Jan Boon was the founding father of the Magazine Tong-Tong (now Moesson), he organised the first 'Pasar Malam Besar'(now called 'Tong Tong Fair') in the Hague, The Indies cultural society, the Indies Scientific Institute and the INDO Community Centre in the United States. Nowadays a lot of Eurasians from the second or third generation appriciate what Jan Boon (also called Tjalie Robinson and Vincent Mahieu) has done to maintain the Eurasian culture in Holland.
The picture at the right side : Jan Boon (Tjalie Robinson).
Indies roots
As adopted children later ask for their original parents, also childeren of Eurasian people often ask : What about my own Eurasian roots ?
Eurasian culture is often identified with Indonesian food, but of course there is more. Is has also to do with the historical knowledge that your roots are in the past of the Dutch East-Indies. It is worth looking at that past. Especially when you have seen the beautiful country of Indonesia one wants to be in that 'atmosphere' of Eurasian and also Indonesian culture. The need to be in that atmosphere does not become weaker but stronger during the years. Just look at all the movies, literature, history books about the Eurasians and all the Indies cultural activities in the Netherland !
The photo at the leftside shows a typical Indies woman in the Dutch East-Indies.
Indonesia
But when you are interested in your Eurasian roots it is also a good thing to respect the people of Indonesia from whom you come from. We are all the 'orang Indonesia'. For the future there is a new possibility to make friends in Indonesia and also study the important history of Indonesia itself !
Rick van den Broeke