Before us rises the Monument Indië-Nederland. It stands near the Olympiaplein. This Amsterdam monument has quite a history.
Initially, the Heining Statue honored General J. B. van Heutsz. He commanded the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. Van Heutsz conquered Aceh for the Netherlands in 1903.
After Van Heutsz died in 1924, people built a mausoleum for him. It was on the Nieuwe Oosterbegraafplaats. There was money left over after the mausoleum was completed. In 1930, the government decided to use this money for a monument. It would stand in another part of Amsterdam.
A contest was held. Gijsbert Friedhoff and Frits van Hall won. Despite protests, Queen Wilhelmina unveiled the Heining Statue in 1935. Princess Juliana and Prime Minister Colijn attended. The monument featured a female figure. Lions stood on each side. A pond and stone wall surrounded it.
The Heining Statue is rich in symbolism. The woman with the scroll represents Dutch authority in Indonesia. The lions symbolize cities. One is Batavia. That was the old capital of the Dutch East Indies. The other lion represents Amsterdam. Locals call the woman “Mien met de hondjes.” That means “Mien with the dogs.” Some call her “the Dutch virgin”.
Once, the Heining Statue included a portrait of Van Heutsz. Criticism arose about his actions in Aceh. The portrait was removed. The name changed to Monument Indië-Nederland. In 1984, someone stole the removed portrait.
The pond symbolizes the sea between the Netherlands and Indonesia. Reliefs on the walls depict islands of the archipelago.
The Heining Statue has faced attacks and protests since 1935. It survived two bomb attacks in 1967 and 1984. Van Heutsz Junior even protested in 1943. He thought the monument was too weak. After the 1984 attack, peace returned until 1997. Then, the government planned renovations. Protests resumed. The government only sandblasted the Heining Statue.
Changes occurred after the unveiling. In 2004, a proposal to dedicate the monument to Multatuli failed. It became a memorial to Dutch-Indonesian relations.
In 2007, further changes clarified its purpose. Brick pedestals were added. They distinguished the eastern and western parts. The colors differed to represent Indonesia and the Netherlands.
Six dates were added to the Heining Statue. 1596 marks the arrival of Cornelis de Houtman and Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser at Banten. 1935 marks the unveiling. 1945 signifies Indonesian Independence. 1949 represents Dutch recognition. 2001 marks the name change. 2007 is for the monument’s expansion.
Some view the Heining Statue with embarrassment. In 2004, Van Heutsz’s name was erased. The monument was re-signified. It now represents the relationship between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies. This covers the period from 1596 to 1949. It is meant to depict memories of our colonial past. It looks at the future with respect for their heritage.
The ghost of Governor-General Van Heutsz still lingers. A plaque reveals the original dedication. The monument tries to hide its colonial history. Van Heutsz murdered thousands. He was honored for over half a century.
One person called for reinstating Van Heutsz’s name and portrait. They wanted the monument to serve as a national pillory. It would recall a terrible episode in colonial history. This would create a concept of dual commemoration. It would lie between honoring and dishonoring. It allows observing history without prejudice.