Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad
Encyclopedia
The Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad, (Batavian Newspaper) was one of the leading and largest daily newspaper
s in the Dutch East Indies
. Based in Batavia (now Jakarta
) on Java, but read throughout the archipel. It was founded by the famous Dutch newspaper man and author P.A.Daum in 1885 and existed to 1957.
The innovative and popular newspaper was very critical towards the colonial government and became a mouthpiece for the Indos in the Dutch East Indies, who were the largest Dutch speaking segment of society. Over the years it had employed many leading figures from the Indo-European (Eurasian) community, including: E. du Perron
, Ernest Douwes Dekker
and Tjalie Robinson
. P.A. Daum's successor as editor in chief Karel Zaalberg
, became the founder of the Indo Europeesch Verbond
, the largest social movement and political organisation for Indo-Europeans.
The progressive newspaper also gave ample publicity to the plight of the indigenous peasantry and the evolution of Indonesian national awareness. It was the first to report on the founding of the first indigeneous political organisation Budi Utomo
in 1908.
At the height of his career as both a journalist and novelist P.A.Daum's hardest collision with the colonial authority occurred in 1885 in Semarang
, when he was chief editor of Het Indisch Vaderland (The Indies Fatherland). When legal proceedings were taken against him he lost his job and the paper, which led to his departure to Batavia. There he founded the Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad with D.A. Hooyer director of Kolff Publishing. The first issue appeared on December 1, 1885. In 1887 Daum was still convicted for his conflict with the authorities in Semarang and sent to jail in Batavia for a month. He nonetheless kept managing his newspaper from prison.
Also later chief editors like J.F. Scheltema (1900) came into conflict with the colonial authorities. Scheltema was also given a one month prison sentence after strongly critisizing individual senior officials, the postal service and particularly the opium policy.
officially became Chief Editor in 1908 and continued the papers progressive and successful strategy. His deputy chief was non other than Ernest Douwes Dekker
. Both men would not only become friends, but also become influential and progressive political figures in the Dutch East Indies. While Dekker started his own newspaper (1911) and political party named the Indische Party
(1912), Zaalberg founded the Indo alliance named the Indo Europeesch Verbond
in 1918 and became a member of the Volksraad (Dutch East Indies)
.
Another important figure of the time, that started to work for the newspaper in 1910, was the Indo Dominique Willem Berretty. In 1918 Berretty started his company ANETA, the press agency of the Dutch East Indies and predecessor of ANTARA. He established a news monopoly and became one of the wealthiest men in the colony. To this day he is known for his private home, the architectural Art Deco highlight Villa Isola in Bandung
.
From 1937 to 1940 the iconic author E. du Perron, a personal friend to the influential intellectuals Andre Malraux
and Sutan Sjahrir
, was the literary editor of the newspaper. From 1936 to 1942 Tjalie Robinson
was a journalist and sports editor at the newspaper. During the Indo diaspora after World War II
the avant garde and visionary Tjalie Robinson, founder of the Tong Tong Fair and magazine, would become the single most important champion of Indo culture.
Victor Ido
(1869–1948), author, musician and playwright was the newspapers Art editor during Daum's tenure.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s in the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. Based in Batavia (now Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
) on Java, but read throughout the archipel. It was founded by the famous Dutch newspaper man and author P.A.Daum in 1885 and existed to 1957.
The innovative and popular newspaper was very critical towards the colonial government and became a mouthpiece for the Indos in the Dutch East Indies, who were the largest Dutch speaking segment of society. Over the years it had employed many leading figures from the Indo-European (Eurasian) community, including: E. du Perron
Edgar du Perron
Charles Edgar du Perron, more commonly known as E. du Perron, was a famous and influential Dutch poet and author of Indo-European descent. Best known for his literary acclaimed master piece ‘Land van herkomst’ of 1935...
, Ernest Douwes Dekker
Ernest Douwes Dekker
Ernest François Eugène Douwes Dekker was an Indonesian freedom fighter and politician of Indo descent. He was related to the famous Dutch writer, Multatuli, whose real name was Eduard Douwes Dekker. In his youth, he took part in the Second Boer War in South Africa on the Boer side...
and Tjalie Robinson
Tjalie Robinson
Tjalie Robinson is the main alias of the Indo intellectual and writer Jan Boon also known as Vincent Mahieu. His father Cornelis Boon, a KNIL sergeant, was Dutch and his Indo-European mother Fela Robinson was part English and Javanese...
. P.A. Daum's successor as editor in chief Karel Zaalberg
Karel Zaalberg
Karel Zaalberg was an Indo journalist and politician in the Dutch East Indies.He was born in Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies, and also died there...
, became the founder of the Indo Europeesch Verbond
Indo Europeesch Verbond
The Indo Europeesch Verbond or Indo European Alliance was a social movement and political organisation founded in 1919 by the Indo-European community of the Dutch East Indies that fought for race equality and political say in late colonial Indonesia during the early 20th century.It was one of the...
, the largest social movement and political organisation for Indo-Europeans.
The progressive newspaper also gave ample publicity to the plight of the indigenous peasantry and the evolution of Indonesian national awareness. It was the first to report on the founding of the first indigeneous political organisation Budi Utomo
Budi Utomo
Budi Utomo , founded on May 20, 1908, was the first native political society in the Dutch East Indies...
in 1908.
P.A. Daum
Idealistic founder P.A. Daum was well aware the Dutch Indies press played an important role in social, political and cultural developments in the Dutch East Indies. Not only as a conveyer of news and information, but also as a commentator, opinion maker and at times sharp critic of the colonial government."...we grab the pen in an attempt to describe the misery of a whole population, caused by the deplorable system of colonial governance, under which they suffer.", P.A.Daum
At the height of his career as both a journalist and novelist P.A.Daum's hardest collision with the colonial authority occurred in 1885 in Semarang
Semarang
- Economy :The western part of the city is home to many industrial parks and factories. The port of Semarang is located on the north coast and it is the main shipping port for the province of Central Java. Many small manufacturers are located in Semarang, producing goods such as textiles,...
, when he was chief editor of Het Indisch Vaderland (The Indies Fatherland). When legal proceedings were taken against him he lost his job and the paper, which led to his departure to Batavia. There he founded the Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad with D.A. Hooyer director of Kolff Publishing. The first issue appeared on December 1, 1885. In 1887 Daum was still convicted for his conflict with the authorities in Semarang and sent to jail in Batavia for a month. He nonetheless kept managing his newspaper from prison.
Also later chief editors like J.F. Scheltema (1900) came into conflict with the colonial authorities. Scheltema was also given a one month prison sentence after strongly critisizing individual senior officials, the postal service and particularly the opium policy.
Innovation
P.A. Daum developed a new formula to maximise the newspapers target audience. By printing a smaller size paper than usual (ie 26 x 40 cm), he was able to lower its price to half of what was usual and also reach the less afluent segment of Dutch speaking society, which mostly consisted of Indo-Europeans. Within the first half year following its establishment the Newspaper had as many subscribers as its competition. Another important feature for which Daum's newspaper was known were his popular novels which he published as a weekly series in the newspaper. Partly due to the successful commercial and serial nature of his writing, it was only after his death that P.A.Daum was acknowledged as one of the greats of Dutch literature.Notable editors and journalists
After several years of procrastination due to his Indo Eurasian background Daum's prodigy Karel ZaalbergKarel Zaalberg
Karel Zaalberg was an Indo journalist and politician in the Dutch East Indies.He was born in Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies, and also died there...
officially became Chief Editor in 1908 and continued the papers progressive and successful strategy. His deputy chief was non other than Ernest Douwes Dekker
Ernest Douwes Dekker
Ernest François Eugène Douwes Dekker was an Indonesian freedom fighter and politician of Indo descent. He was related to the famous Dutch writer, Multatuli, whose real name was Eduard Douwes Dekker. In his youth, he took part in the Second Boer War in South Africa on the Boer side...
. Both men would not only become friends, but also become influential and progressive political figures in the Dutch East Indies. While Dekker started his own newspaper (1911) and political party named the Indische Party
Indische Party
The Indische Party or Indies Party was a short lived but influential political organisation founded in 1912 by the Indo-European journalist E.F.E. Douwes Dekker and the Javanese physicians Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo and Soewardi Soerjaningrat...
(1912), Zaalberg founded the Indo alliance named the Indo Europeesch Verbond
Indo Europeesch Verbond
The Indo Europeesch Verbond or Indo European Alliance was a social movement and political organisation founded in 1919 by the Indo-European community of the Dutch East Indies that fought for race equality and political say in late colonial Indonesia during the early 20th century.It was one of the...
in 1918 and became a member of the Volksraad (Dutch East Indies)
Volksraad (Dutch East Indies)
A People's Council for the Dutch East Indies was provided for by law in 1916. But was procrastinated until the actual installation of the Council in 1918. It was a hesitant and slow attempt at democratisation of the Dutch East Indies. The power of the Volksraad was limited as it only had advisory...
.
Another important figure of the time, that started to work for the newspaper in 1910, was the Indo Dominique Willem Berretty. In 1918 Berretty started his company ANETA, the press agency of the Dutch East Indies and predecessor of ANTARA. He established a news monopoly and became one of the wealthiest men in the colony. To this day he is known for his private home, the architectural Art Deco highlight Villa Isola in Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
.
From 1937 to 1940 the iconic author E. du Perron, a personal friend to the influential intellectuals Andre Malraux
André Malraux
André Malraux DSO was a French adventurer, award-winning author, and statesman. Having traveled extensively in Indochina and China, Malraux was noted especially for his novel entitled La Condition Humaine , which won the Prix Goncourt...
and Sutan Sjahrir
Sutan Sjahrir
Sutan Sjahrir , an avant garde and idealistic Indonesian intellectual, was a revolutionary independence leader...
, was the literary editor of the newspaper. From 1936 to 1942 Tjalie Robinson
Tjalie Robinson
Tjalie Robinson is the main alias of the Indo intellectual and writer Jan Boon also known as Vincent Mahieu. His father Cornelis Boon, a KNIL sergeant, was Dutch and his Indo-European mother Fela Robinson was part English and Javanese...
was a journalist and sports editor at the newspaper. During the Indo diaspora after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the avant garde and visionary Tjalie Robinson, founder of the Tong Tong Fair and magazine, would become the single most important champion of Indo culture.
Victor Ido
Victor Ido
Victor Ido is the main alias of the Indo Dutch language writer and journalist Hans van de Wall. Born in Surabaya, Dutch East Indies from a Dutch father and Indo mother...
(1869–1948), author, musician and playwright was the newspapers Art editor during Daum's tenure.
Final years
During the economic depression of the 30s the newspaper had become more conservative. During the Japanese occupation all Dutch language newspapers were banned. The printing house still printed Indonesian language pro-Japanese publications. After the war paper shortages and a diminished Dutch speaking audience was the reason that only one Batavia newspaper appeared, as of 1 June 1946 published by a collaboration of three pre-war metropolitan newspapers, including the Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad. In 1949 the newspaper became independent again (1950-1955), but appeared under the name: Nieuwsblad voor Indonesie (Newspaper for Indonesia). After a merger in December 1957 it ceased to exist.Employees
- P.A.Daum (1850–1898)
- Victor IdoVictor IdoVictor Ido is the main alias of the Indo Dutch language writer and journalist Hans van de Wall. Born in Surabaya, Dutch East Indies from a Dutch father and Indo mother...
(1869–1948) - Karel ZaalbergKarel ZaalbergKarel Zaalberg was an Indo journalist and politician in the Dutch East Indies.He was born in Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies, and also died there...
(1873–1928) - Ernest Douwes DekkerErnest Douwes DekkerErnest François Eugène Douwes Dekker was an Indonesian freedom fighter and politician of Indo descent. He was related to the famous Dutch writer, Multatuli, whose real name was Eduard Douwes Dekker. In his youth, he took part in the Second Boer War in South Africa on the Boer side...
(1879–1950) - Edgar du PerronEdgar du PerronCharles Edgar du Perron, more commonly known as E. du Perron, was a famous and influential Dutch poet and author of Indo-European descent. Best known for his literary acclaimed master piece ‘Land van herkomst’ of 1935...
(1899–1940) - Tjalie RobinsonTjalie RobinsonTjalie Robinson is the main alias of the Indo intellectual and writer Jan Boon also known as Vincent Mahieu. His father Cornelis Boon, a KNIL sergeant, was Dutch and his Indo-European mother Fela Robinson was part English and Javanese...
(1911-1974)