Dutch Colonization in Indonesia

Dutch Colonial Years

The 1st Dutch expedition arrived in Indonesia in 1596, with
four small Dutch vessels, led by Cornelis de Houtman, dropping
anchor in Banten
Banten was the largest pepper port in the archipelago.
Multiple expeditions by several Dutch companies went to the
archipelago hunting profits.
Competition for spices was driving prices up in the archipelago
while the sharp growth of supplies was driving prices down in
Europe.
This made the Dutch government decide to merge the
competing companies into one entity called the VOC.
In the 18th century, the Dutch United East India Company
(Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, abbreviated VOC)
established itself as the dominating economic and political
power in Java after the crumbling and collapse of the
Mataram Empire. [large kingdom in Java that lasted from
the late 16th century to the 18th century]
This Dutch trading company had been a major power in
Asian trade since the early 1600s
Then started to develop an interest in interfering in
indigenous politics on the island of Java in the 18th
century as that would improve their hold on the local
economy.
The Dutch gradually controlled the
entire archipelago;
Ambon 1605
The objective was to
Malacca 1641 trade Indian cotton
Aceh 1667 for spices.
Macassar 1669
Banten 1682
 Dutch Trade Control
1 2 3
Direct administration of
The Dutch avoided Control was carried
areas growing coffee,
direct administration out through local
sugar, Indigofera
until the mid-18th authorities who also tinctoria, and spices
century. as main traders. began in the 18th
century.
 VOC fully supports slavery
Slavery scheme is believed to be able to promise abundant
profits
Slaves worked reliably in all fields from being cooks to
carpenters
Having many slaves was considered a sign of prosperity
Slaves were treated like animals, and one little mistake, sadistic
punishment awaited.
Many of the Indonesian slaves died.
VOC went bankrupt
In 1796 the VOC went bankrupt and was nationalized by
the Dutch state.
It passed into the hands of the Dutch crown in 1800.

French occupied Holland between 1806 and 1815

these possessions were transferred to France.
After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, it was
decided that most parts of the archipelago would
return to the Dutch.
The presence of the VOC is widely known as the
originator of Dutch colonialism in the
archipelago.
The Company's ambition was to build a Dutch-
style city in the colony in 1619, they called it
Batavia.
Under the leadership of Jan Pieterszooncoen,
the Dutch easily captured the city and made it
the capital of the Dutch East Indies
 Group Activity
Make a Mind Map about “The Impact
of Dutch Colonization in Indonesia”
Each Group [3 students]
Each of the students should research
different Impacts:
1. Political Impact
2. Social Impact
3. Economic Impact

Digital Format --> Submit to the GC

 Impact of Dutch colonialism
1 2 3
Economic Impacts Social Impacts Political Impacts
 Economic Impacts
1. Building of infrastructure
E.g. The construction of Anyer – Panarukan become the national
road until today
 Highway Post is a road that with approximately 1000 km
length, stretched from Anyer to Panarukan.
This highway was built during the Dutch colonial period
under the leadership of Governor General Herman Willem
Daendels. Currently, known as Jalan Pantai Utara
(Pantura).

This road shorten the travel time from Surabaya to Batavia which was originally taken for 40
days, then can be shortened to 7 days.
 2. Establishment of plantations

Rubber, tobacco, sugarcane, tea and coffee

Many of these plantations were located in
Sumatra.
These economic activities attracted
international investments and open
opportunities for private business which
resulted in bringing employment to the
Indonesian society numbers.
Workers were attracted to these new jobs
because of the promising wages it offers.
The system of forced cultivation was introduced
slowly from 1830 to 1835.
By 1840 the system had been fully operational
in Java.
The colonial government mobilized farmland,
buffaloes, cattle, and all-free labor.
The commodities produced in Indonesia were in
demand on the world market.
Slave trading was widely carried out during the
Dutch colonial period in Indonesia.
Especially in North Sumatra, human trading for
plantation workers, known as coolies, was widely
practiced around 150 years ago.
 3. Introduction of modern economic
and family practices
With the development of industries, the
Dutch introduced new things that were more
in line with a modern economy.
The Dutch set up credit associations, village
rice banks, and cooperatives.
The Dutch introduced technological
advancements in farming techniques
- new irrigation systems and effective fertilizers
- better rearing [maintenance] methods to
improved livestock [cattle] quality
The system of forced cultivation was introduced
slowly from 1830 to 1835.
By 1840 the system had been fully operational
in Java.
The colonial government mobilized farmland,
buffaloes, cattle, and all-free labor.
The commodities produced in Indonesia were in
demand on the world market.
Slave trading was widely carried out during the
Dutch colonial period in Indonesia.
Especially in North Sumatra, human trading for
plantation workers, known as coolies, was widely
practiced around 150 years ago.
 2. Change in livelihood
1
Receiving wage is
2
These income provided
3
something new to the varied with commodity Laborers were financially
workers prices and was not indebted to their
stable. employers because the
Farmers went back to former needed cash
their villages to work in Indonesian laborers not advances at the beginning
plantations and have treated well in their of each work contract.
new jobs.
their new income
 5. Dual Economy
1 2 3
- the modern and
industrial sector the rural sector where they produced food for
characterized by the natives survived on their consumption and
sold surpluses to those
technology-advanced limited resources,
living in the urban areas
industries that were
export-oriented