In Nederland gebleven

Overview & Synopsis

In 1951, approximately 12,900 Moluccans came to the Netherlands. They were mainly former soldiers of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) and their families. The expectation was that they would return home after a few months. Almost seventy-five years have now passed, and only a small group has returned. The war of decolonization in Indonesia led to Indonesia’s independence but also resulted in Moluccan soldiers who had fought in Dutch service ending up on the wrong side of history. This was exacerbated by their rejection of the unitary state in the new Indonesia, opting for a federal structure and ultimately for an independent Republic of South Moluccas. As a result, the demobilization of approximately 3,500 Moluccan soldiers stalled, and they and their families were brought to the Netherlands temporarily. Because both the government and the Moluccans assumed this stay would be temporary, they both long rejected integration. “In Nederland gebleven” (Those Who Remained in the Netherlands") explores the tension between a migrant group and the government, the violent confrontation between exiles with political ideals and Dutch society, and the collaboration between governments and Moluccans to overcome these problems. It demonstrates that integration is a long-term process, a process that—despite differences—can be found among other migrant groups.