Bereavements for Gary Westerhout amd Francis van Weiringen
Mr. Gary Westerhout passed away in Malacca on 2nd June 2008. He was the brother of Hazel Westerhout and father to Bryan Westerhout. Our condolences to the family. This leaves Hazel as the only Westerhout left residing in Malacca.

Our condolences also goes out to Francis van Weiringen on the demise of his father, Walter van Weiringen. Included below is an article on the late Walter van Weiringen.


Book Launch : History of the Dutch in Malaysia
The book entitled History of the Dutch in Malaysia by Dennis De Witt (ISBN No. 9789834351908, Published by Nutmeg Publishing), was published as a contribution by the Malaysian Dutch descendants to commemorate Malaysia's 50th Merdeka, 50 years of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and the Netherlands, and four centuries of friendly contacts between the two nations. The theme of my book focuses on the mutual heritage shared between Malaysia and the Netherlands. It also tells about ties of friendship, diplomacy and commerce shared between the Dutch and the Malays that goes all the way back to their first contact in 1602 at Batu Sawar, Johor. It reveals of the mutual heritage that Malaysia shares with the Netherlands.

The book was launched at the Malaysian National Library, Kuala Lumpur on 18th December 2007. The book launch was jointly officiated by Encik Raslin Abu Bakar, the Deputy Director-general of the National Library together with H.E. Lody Embrechts, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Malaysia.

Further information, please see : www.nutmegpublishing.com


Prof. Dr. Ir. Edward Frietman's visit to Malaysia
Prof. Dr. Ir. Edward Frietman, a retired visiting Professor of Applied Sciences at Delft University of Technology, who is the president of the Netherlands-Malaysia Association(Vereniging Nederland-Maleisie or VNM) arrived unexpectedly for a holiday in Malaysia with his wife, Inca. Some participants of the MDDP were able to meet them for tea on 28th October 2006 at an Indian restaurant in Petaling Jaya. The Frietmans are both Indo-Dutch Eurasians. Prof. Dr. Ir. Edward Frietman was born in Batavia (now Jakarta) and his wife was from Padang in Indonesia. They were living in the Netherlands since the mass exodus of the Dutch people from Indonesia since the 1950s.


Meeting with Ambassador Lody Embrechts
On 8th July 2006, Dennis De Witt, Jesse van den Driesen, Marcia Nicholas and Wilfred Spykerman, who are made up of the Core Working Committee of the MDDP, meet Ambassador Lody Embrechts at his residence. At the meeting, we presented the Ambassador with a working paper on a 3-fold plan for co-operation between the Embassy and the MDDP. The plan encompass areas in business and trade links, heritage and culture promotion and education.

Thereafter, a list of Dutch descendants who are involved in business was forwarded to the Trade Department of the Royal Netherlands Embassy. Ambassador Embrechts will consider the possibility of including the MDDP in future Dutch heritage and culture promotions. As for education, the Embassy is waiting for the arrival of their new Education Councillor.


Assistance and opportunities
The Malaysian Dutch Descendants Project is seeking assistance/participation for the following purpose:

1. Office/Centre
The Project is seeking the assistance, especially from a benevolent corporation/organisation based in Malaysia, to sponsor some office space and help set up an office to act as our secretariat and resource centre, preferable in Klang Valley area.

2. Publications
The Project is seeking assistance and sponsorship for intended publications regarding Dutch heritage and culture in Malaysia. Also, we would be happy to try to contribute articles towards other publications.

3. Research/Reference materials
The Project welcomes contributions/donations of any relevant books, articles, references or research materials that may help enhance the knowledge on Dutch heritage and history for the Dutch descendants in Malaysia.

4. Scholars and researchers
The Project welcomes contacts with scholars and researchers who are interested in carrying out any academic research on the history and social background of the Dutch descendants in Malaysia.

5. Dutch translation programme
The Projects intends to begin a programme to create a pool of volunteers who are willing to help translate research and historical documents from Dutch to English. These documents will help enhance the understanding of the heritage of the Dutch descendants and their history.

6. Affiliation and partnership
The Projects seeks to create affiliations and partnerships with other heritage and cultural organisations that would be of mutual benefit.

Please contact us if you are interested to participate/assist us in any of the aforesaid areas. Thank you.


400 years of Dutch contact in Malaysia
The 3rd fleet of the VOC commanded by Admiral Cornelis Matelief de Jonge first arrived at the Straits of Malacca in April 1606 with a flotilla of 11 ships. On 17th May 1606, de Jonge created an alliance with the Sultan of Johor for the capture of Malacca from the Portuguese. This led to the siege of Malacca and the famous sea battle at Cape Rachado on 16th August 1606. The Dutch lost the sea battle but had de Jonge been successful, Malacca would have been the administration centre for the Dutch in Asia, not Batavia. 2006 will mark the 400 years anniversary of that historic event.


Bereavement - Mrs. Mavis Van Dort
Mrs. Mavis Van Dort passed away peacefully on 13th October 2005 in Petaling Jaya after a long struggle with cancer.
Her late husband was Mr. Fred Van Dort who was known far and wide for his pioneer research into his Ceylon Dutch Burgher family. He was an inspiration to many budding amateur researchers. Even long after Mr. Van Dort's demise, Mrs. Van Dort often kindly accepted requests from younger researchers to consult her late husband's work.
I am sure that those of you who knew Auntie Mavis will remember her as a kind and very friendly lady who gave no hint of her long struggle with her illness. Auntie Mavis was a frequent supporter of the Project, although she herself was not of Dutch descent and she often gave us encouragement for our initiatives. She will be missed by all of us who were fortunate to get to know her.
Mrs. Mavis Van Dort leaves behind her children Trevyln, Dexter and Sandra, and her grandchildren.


From the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Kuala Lumpur
Ambassador John von Muhlen has retired from the diplomatic service with Malaysia as his final posting. H.E. John von Muhlen and his wife, Danielle left Malaysia on 9th September 2005 and plan to spend their retirement in France.

H.E. Lody Embrechts is currently the ambassador of the Netherlands to Malaysia. Ambassador Lody Embrechts is joined in Malaysia by his wife, Madam Christine Park.

The Deputy Head of Mission for the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Kuala Lumpur is Mr. Luc Schillings.


Fort Road, Malacca
The Project's co-ordinator is looking for old pictures regarding buildings at Fort Road (now called Jalan Kota) and Fort Terrace (former residential buildings located across the old Malacca Club), around St. Paul's Hill in Malacca. If you are in possession of any old pictures of your family or your family's home at Fort Road or Fort Terrace, please contact me at this website's e-mail address. Thank you. (Dennis De Witt)


Community News
If there are any news like births, weddings or any other events regarding members of the community, please let us know so that it may be updated here.