During an interview in Ambon market, a vendor selling flags of the Dutch national football team shared that these flags have been in high demand during the World Cup. The strong connection between the Maluku Islands in Indonesia and the Netherlands, dating back over 300 years of colonial influence, remains evident today. The Maluku people learn Dutch, maintain cultural ties, and cheer for the Dutch football team. However, historians caution that the economic benefits during the colonial period were minimal, and the support for the establishment of the “South Maluku Republic” was eventually withdrawn. They urge the need to promote cooperation while remembering past lessons.
Joyce Amelia Loedia, born in Geleen, Netherlands, in 1954, moved to Jakarta with her family at the age of eight. As a result, she speaks fluent Dutch. Every week, Joyce gathers with other Dutch speakers at church or restaurants, where they read the Bible and sing Dutch hymns, sharing their emotional ties to both Maluku and the Netherlands.
Reflecting on the past, during Indonesia’s independence war, thousands of Maluku people joined the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) to resist the Indonesian government and establish the South Maluku Republic, leading to their perception as traitors and subsequent repression by the Indonesian military.
After the Dutch military withdrawal in the early 1950s, around 12,500 Maluku soldiers and their families sought refuge in the Netherlands. Initially supported by the Dutch government while they awaited the establishment of the South Maluku Republic, their hopes were ultimately dashed.
While Joyce’s family returned to Indonesia, many Maluku people chose to stay in the Netherlands. According to Dutch government statistics, approximately 70,000 Maluku individuals lived in the Netherlands as of 2018, leading to a strong familial connection for many residing in Indonesia.
In Maluku province, residents predominantly practice Islam and Christianity, including Catholicism, with over 60% of the capital, Ambon, being Christian. Joyce’s connection to the Netherlands runs deep; for many in Ambon, cheering for the Dutch national football team becomes a cultural expression that highlights their shared heritage.
The Dutch football team features several players of Maluku descent, including well-known figures like Simon Tahamata and Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Joseph Matheus Rudolf Fofid, a cultural historian, notes that while these players represent the Netherlands, they resonate with the Maluku people as a symbol of their presence on the world stage through football.
Nico Tulalessy, a music teacher in Ambon, passionately supports the Dutch team, even painting his motorcycle in their signature orange. He maintains close ties with relatives in the Netherlands, celebrating their victories with communal festivities that turn the city orange, regardless of the outcome.
However, Joseph acknowledges a complex emotional landscape regarding the Maluku people’s deep feelings for the Netherlands. He explains that the colonial era left lasting scars, with the Dutch East India Company implementing harsh policies, including forced labor and violent suppression of dissent.
The initial generations of Maluku soldiers and their families faced difficulties in the Netherlands, often struggling to assimilate and facing discrimination. Many lived in poor conditions in refugee camps, and the sentiments of betrayal lingered due to the cessation of Dutch support for their aspirations.
Despite the turmoil, the connection between the Maluku people and their Dutch counterparts endures. Joseph describes a bittersweet longing, with family members on both sides missing each other, maintaining a bond across continents.
Seventy-four-year-old Linda, proud of her Ambon roots, hopes to pass on Dutch culture to future generations. She emphasizes the importance of continuing to learn and speak Dutch as an essential part of their identity.
Yet, Joseph insists that while reconciliation with the Dutch is important, the historical injustices must not be forgotten. He advocates for collaboration among Indonesia, the Netherlands, and Maluku in economic, educational, cultural, and sporting arenas, stressing the need to learn from the past while looking forward to the future.
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