Frans Hendrik Karel Zaalberg (26 November 1873 – 13 February 1928) was an Indo (Eurasian) journalist and politician in the Dutch East Indies.

[4] Due to a traffic accident, his father became disabled and the impoverished family was unable to send their children to any form of higher or even secondary education.

Daum, an autodidact himself, soon made Zaalberg his right-hand man, taking a position against the widespread discrimination regarding Indos, who were seldom admitted to the highest layers of the colonial hierarchy.

It had good contacts with young Javanese intellectuals and was actively involved in the formation of ‘Boedi Oetomo’ [6] an event which is seen as the beginning of Indonesian nationalism.

The close friendship between Douwes Dekker and Zaalberg initially led to joint plans with 'Budi Utomo' to aim for a parliament representing all native communities, including the Indo-Eurasians.

He still however experienced his finest hour when he acted as chairman at the founding meeting of the Indo-European Alliance (Dutch: ‘Indo Europeesch Verbond') in 1919.

As a board member of the 'IEV' he became a representative in the Dutch East Indies 'Volksraad' (House of Assembly), an infant form of local parliament, where he remained highly vocal about the need for native educational facilities.

Under the leadership of his successor Dick de Hoog his 'IEV' would become the single most important Indo movement in the Dutch East Indies, with close to 15,000 members.