Javanese Surinamese
Encyclopedia
Javanese Surinamese are an ethnic group present in Suriname
since the late 19th century, whose first members were selected by the Dutch colonizers from the former Dutch Indies. Some of their descendants live today in the Netherlands.
in Suriname
, undertook a test to attract Javanese contract workers from the Dutch East Indies. Until then, primarily Hindustani
contract workers from British India worked at the Suriname plantations as field and factory workers.
On August 9 the first Java
nese arrived in Paramaribo
. The test was considered successful and by 1894 the colonial government took over the task of recruiting Javanese hands. They came in small groups from the Dutch East Indies to the Netherlands, and from there to Paramaribo. The transport of Javanese immigrants continued until 1914 (except 1894) in two stages through Amsterdam.
The workers came from villages in the Central
- and East Java
. Departure points were Batavia, Semarang
and Tandjong Priok
. The recruited workers and their families awaited their departure in a depot, where they were inspected and registered and where they signed their contract.
The immigrants were recruited to work on the plantation
s. The exception was a group in 1904, when 77 Javanese are recruited specifically to work at the Colonial Railways. From World War I Javanese also worked at the Suriname Bauxite Company in Moengo
. Immigration continued until December 13,
1939. The outbreak of World War Two ended transplantation schemes.
, with the rest remaining in Suriname. The census of 1972 counted 57,688 Javanese in Suriname, and in 2004 there were 71,879. In addition, in 2004 more than 60,000 people of mixed descent were recorded, with an unknown number of part Javanese descent.
, but their request was not approved by the Indonesian government, and instead they were sent to West Sumatra
. They established the village of Tongass in Kabupaten Pasaman
, north of Padang
, clearing land land and building new houses. They integrated smoothly with the Minangkabau community, despite the fact that most of the Javanese were Christian. Marriages with the mainly Muslim Minangkabau were common. The current generation is said to feel more Indonesian than Surinamese, but still maintains contacts with family and friends in Suriname and the Netherlands, sometimes traveling to those countries.
, The Hague
, Rotterdam
and Zoetermeer
. They are well integrated into Dutch society, but preserve their Javanese identity through associations and regularly organized meetings. Most still have relatives in Suriname and send packages and money, with many regularly visiting Suriname.
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
since the late 19th century, whose first members were selected by the Dutch colonizers from the former Dutch Indies. Some of their descendants live today in the Netherlands.
Contract Labour
In 1890, the influential Netherlands Trading Society, owner of the plantation MariënburgMarienburg
-The historical German names of these places:*Ordensburg Marienburg , the large brick castle built by the Teutonic Knights**Malbork, Poland, site of the Ordensburg Marienburg, formerly Marienburg in Westpreußen and during World War II, Nazi Stalag XX-B for enlisted men*Alūksne, Latvia*Feldioara,...
in Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
, undertook a test to attract Javanese contract workers from the Dutch East Indies. Until then, primarily Hindustani
Hindoestanen
The Hindoestanen are an ethnic group of South Asian origin in the Netherlands and Suriname. After the Dutch government signed a treaty with the United Kingdom on the recruitment of contract workers, the Hindoestanen began migrating to Suriname in 1873 from what was then British India as indentured...
contract workers from British India worked at the Suriname plantations as field and factory workers.
On August 9 the first Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
nese arrived in Paramaribo
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
. The test was considered successful and by 1894 the colonial government took over the task of recruiting Javanese hands. They came in small groups from the Dutch East Indies to the Netherlands, and from there to Paramaribo. The transport of Javanese immigrants continued until 1914 (except 1894) in two stages through Amsterdam.
The workers came from villages in the Central
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
- and East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
. Departure points were Batavia, 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,...
and Tandjong Priok
Tanjung Priok
Tanjung Priok is a subdistrict of North Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. It hosts the western part of the city's main harbour, the Port of Tanjung Priok...
. The recruited workers and their families awaited their departure in a depot, where they were inspected and registered and where they signed their contract.
The immigrants were recruited to work on the plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s. The exception was a group in 1904, when 77 Javanese are recruited specifically to work at the Colonial Railways. From World War I Javanese also worked at the Suriname Bauxite Company in Moengo
Moengo
Moengo is a town in Suriname, located in the Marowijne district, between Paramaribo and the border town Albina. In former times it was a major centre for the mining and storage of bauxite...
. Immigration continued until December 13,
1939. The outbreak of World War Two ended transplantation schemes.
Population
A total of 32,965 Javanese immigrants went to Suriname. In 1954, 8684 Javanese returned to IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, with the rest remaining in Suriname. The census of 1972 counted 57,688 Javanese in Suriname, and in 2004 there were 71,879. In addition, in 2004 more than 60,000 people of mixed descent were recorded, with an unknown number of part Javanese descent.
Sumatra
In 1953 a large group of 300 families (1200 people), led by Salikin Hardjo, went back to Indonesia on the ship Langkuas of the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd. They intended to settle in Java or LampungLampung
Lampung is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the southern tip of the island of Sumatra and borders the provinces of Bengkulu and South Sumatra. Lampung is the original home of the Lampung people, who speak a distinct language from other people in Sumatra and have their own alphabet. Its...
, but their request was not approved by the Indonesian government, and instead they were sent to West Sumatra
West Sumatra
West Sumatra is a province of Indonesia. It lies on the west coast of the island Sumatra. It borders the provinces of North Sumatra to the north, Riau and Jambi to the east, and Bengkulu to the southeast. It includes the Mentawai Islands off the coast...
. They established the village of Tongass in Kabupaten Pasaman
Pasaman
Pasaman is a regency of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It has an area of 3,947.63 km² and a population of approximately 243,000 people. The capital is Lubuk Sikaping....
, north of Padang
Padang, Indonesia
Padang is the capital and largest city of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located on the western coast of Sumatra at . It has an area of and a population of over 833,000 people at the 2010 Census.-History:...
, clearing land land and building new houses. They integrated smoothly with the Minangkabau community, despite the fact that most of the Javanese were Christian. Marriages with the mainly Muslim Minangkabau were common. The current generation is said to feel more Indonesian than Surinamese, but still maintains contacts with family and friends in Suriname and the Netherlands, sometimes traveling to those countries.
Netherlands
In the 1970s 20-25,000 Javanese Surinamese went to the Netherlands. They settled mainly in and around cities such as Groningen, AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
and Zoetermeer
Zoetermeer
Zoetermeer is a city in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covers an area of 37.06 km² . A small village until the late 1960s, it had 6,392 inhabitants in 1950...
. They are well integrated into Dutch society, but preserve their Javanese identity through associations and regularly organized meetings. Most still have relatives in Suriname and send packages and money, with many regularly visiting Suriname.