Serie: Moluccan memories
In 1951, circa 12,500 Moluccans were transferred from the former Dutch East Indies to the Netherlands. They were mostly soldiers who had served in the Dutch colonial army (KNIL).
After the transfer of sovereignty and the dissolution of the KNIL, Indonesia, the Netherlands and the Moluccan soldiers could not reach an agreement about where the demobilization should
take place. Ultimately, it was decided to temporarily transfer the Moluccans to the Netherlands. It proved impossible for the most to return.
On March 21, 2021, it will be 70 years ago that the first Moluccans arrived in the Netherlands on the ship “Kota Inten”. After them, 11 more ships would follow.
For me, as the wife of a Moluccan, a reason to photograph a number of 2nd generation Moluccans. The images show them together with memories of family and origins.