Anton Willem Nieuwenhuis
Encyclopedia
Anton Willem Nieuwenhuis (22 May 1864 Papendrecht
- 21 September 1953, Leiden) was a Dutch
explorer
who travelled extensively in central Borneo
in the 1890s, recording valuable ethnographic
information about the Dayak people
and making biological collections.
Nieuwenhuis studied medicine at Leiden University
from 1883 to 1889 and took his doctoral degree from the University of Freiburg
in 1890. That year, he joined the armed forces to become a medical officer in the Dutch East Indies army, stationed in 1892 at Sambas
, West Kalimantan
. He participated in three major expeditions to parts of Borneo not then under Dutch control, the first of which took place under the leadership of Professor Molengraaff
in 1893-94. He then became the first European to cross Borneo from west to east (or vice versa), from Pontianak
to Samarinda
, in 1896-97. The third expedition took place in 1898-1900.
In 1904, Nieuwenhuis was appointed professor of geography and ethnology at Leiden University and became the editor of the journal Internationales Archiv für Ethnographie. He retired in May 1934 and died in his new hometown in 1953. In an obituary, Bertram E. Smythies
called him "a Borneo Livingstone".
Taxa named after him include the orchid Bulbophyllum nieuwenhuisii
and the Blue-wattled Bulbul
(Pycnonotus nieuwenhuisii).
Papendrecht
Papendrecht is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, at the crossing of the River Beneden Merwede and the Noord River...
- 21 September 1953, Leiden) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
explorer
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
who travelled extensively in central Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
in the 1890s, recording valuable ethnographic
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
information about the Dayak people
Dayak people
The Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...
and making biological collections.
Nieuwenhuis studied medicine at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
from 1883 to 1889 and took his doctoral degree from the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
in 1890. That year, he joined the armed forces to become a medical officer in the Dutch East Indies army, stationed in 1892 at Sambas
Sultanate of Sambas
Sambas was a traditional state in Indonesia in modern Borneo.-History:At first governed by governors, Sambas became kingdom in 1609 with the descendant of Sepudak. She married one of her daughters to a descendant of the Sultan of Brunei...
, West Kalimantan
West Kalimantan
West Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia. It is one of four Indonesian provinces in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. Its capital city Pontianak is located right on the Equator....
. He participated in three major expeditions to parts of Borneo not then under Dutch control, the first of which took place under the leadership of Professor Molengraaff
Gustaaf Adolf Frederik Molengraaff
Gustaaf Adolf Frederik Molengraaff was a Dutch geologist, biologist and explorer. He became an authority on the geology of South Africa and the Dutch East Indies....
in 1893-94. He then became the first European to cross Borneo from west to east (or vice versa), from Pontianak
Pontianak, Indonesia
Pontianak is the capital of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan. It is a medium-size industrial city on the island of Borneo. Pontianak occupies an area of 107.82 km² in the delta of the Kapuas River...
to Samarinda
Samarinda
Samarinda is the capital of the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. The city lies on the banks of the Mahakam River. It is the most populous city in East Kalimantan with a population of 726,223...
, in 1896-97. The third expedition took place in 1898-1900.
In 1904, Nieuwenhuis was appointed professor of geography and ethnology at Leiden University and became the editor of the journal Internationales Archiv für Ethnographie. He retired in May 1934 and died in his new hometown in 1953. In an obituary, Bertram E. Smythies
Bertram E. Smythies
Bertram Evelyn Smythies was a British forester and ornithologist.Smythies was born in India, to E. A. Smythies, silviculturist of Uttar Pradesh and, in the 1940s, Chief Conservator of Forest of Nepal, and his wife, Olive, well-known author of The Tiger Lady...
called him "a Borneo Livingstone".
Taxa named after him include the orchid Bulbophyllum nieuwenhuisii
Bulbophyllum nieuwenhuisii
Bulbophyllum nieuwenhuisii is a species of orchid in the genus Bulbophyllum.-References:**...
and the Blue-wattled Bulbul
Blue-wattled Bulbul
The Blue-wattled Bulbul is a disputed songbird species in the family Pycnonotidae. The specific epithet commemorates Dutch explorer Anton Willem Nieuwenhuis.It is found in Brunei and Indonesia...
(Pycnonotus nieuwenhuisii).
Publications
- Nieuwenhuis, Anton Willem. (1900). In Centraal Borneo: reis van Pontianak naar Samarinda. E.J. Brill: Leyden.
- Nieuwenhuis, Anton Willem. (1904–1907). Quer durch Borneo: Ergebnisse seiner Reisen in den Jahren 1894, 1896-97 und 1898-1900. E.J. Brill: Leyden. (German edition).
External links
- Quer Durch Borneo by Anton Willem Nieuwenhuis PDF download from Project Gutenberg (in German)