Dutch language in Indonesia
In 1641, the Dutch colonial fleet took control of Malacca after seizing it from the Portuguese, making it an important port in the East Indies trade network.
However, beyond its role as a regional language, Malay was also widely used in British territories such as Malaya, Singapore, and Brunei, where it functioned as a lingua franca.
Despite strong anti-Dutch sentiments following the police actions (agresi militer I dan II) and the Bersiap period, many Indonesians continued to respect the Dutch language.
Sukarno claimed that the territory rightfully belonged to Indonesia and engaged in prolonged negotiations with the Dutch over its status.
Meanwhile, through colonial schools in Netherlands New Guinea, many indigenous Papuans were also introduced to the Dutch language, contributing to its continued presence in the region.
[9] Fluency in Dutch today is primarily limited to elderly individuals and a portion of their younger relatives, particularly in major cities in Java, Minahasa, Maluku, and Papua.
Additionally, historical, linguistic, philological, and medical sources from earlier periods are often written in Dutch, making proficiency in the language valuable for research.
Vocational education institutions offering Dutch language courses can also be found in cities such as Semarang, Bandung, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta.
These institutions often cater to a broader audience, including younger generations who wish to learn Dutch to understand their grandparents' language, study Indonesian history, or pursue tourism-related careers, such as becoming tour guides.
Alongside English, Arabic, Japanese, and Mandarin, Dutch remains a popular language of study in Indonesia.
Additionally, historical, linguistic, philological, and medical sources from earlier periods are often written in Dutch, making proficiency in the language valuable for research.
Vocational education institutions offering Dutch language courses can also be found in cities such as Semarang, Bandung, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta.
These institutions often cater to a broader audience, including younger generations who wish to learn Dutch to understand their grandparents' language, study Indonesian history, or pursue tourism-related careers, such as becoming tour guides.
Alongside English, Arabic, Japanese, and Mandarin, Dutch remains a popular language of study in Indonesia.
