Far From Homeland

Agoes Rudianto (Freelance Photographer, Jakarta)

In 1951, around 12,500 Moluccans were transported from Java to the Netherlands. They were mostly soldiers who had served in the Dutch colonial army (KNIL), and their relatives. After the transfer of sovereignty and the disbandment of the KNIL, Indonesia, the Netherlands and the Moluccan soldiers were unable to reach an agreement regarding the demobilization site. Finally, it was decided to transfer the Moluccans temporarily to the Netherlands. For most, it turned out to be impossible to return.

More than sixty years after, the Dutch Moluccan community appears to be in Holland for good. Their task in the coming century will be that of balancing the rich cultural heritage and the history of their forefathers with the demands of life in the complex, multi-ethnic, westernized world that is the Netherlands today, a task faced by the younger generation of all of Holland many immigrant groups.

There is a resurgent interest among the second and third generations of Moluccans to know and maintain their indigenous culture. They try to keep memories of the origin of their ancestors through tattoos, natural paintings of their their villages and various traditional items. In the community, they choose to use mother tongue rather than Dutch or English.