Reconnecting Through Our Roots was published with the kind assistance from the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Malaysia and the Netherlands Association Malaysia.

The book, although a minor publication, serves as a record of the proceedings of the historic event entitled ‘Reconnecting through our roots — International gathering of Dutch descendants’ that was held on July 17th and 18th, 2004 in the 330 year old Atlas Ice Building located at Jonker Street, Malacca. It constitutes as one of the very few publications that tells of a forgotten Malaysian ethnic group: the Dutch descendants in Malaysia.

The gathering was organised by the Malaysian Dutch Descendants Project to showcase the history, culture and heritage of the community of Dutch descendants in Malaysia. More importantly, the event also serves to highlight the continued existence of the Dutch descendants in Malaysia, as well as their ancestral connection to other similar communities from South Africa, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

The historic event in Malacca was attended by some 150 Dutch descendants from Malaysia, Singapore, the Netherlands and from other parts of the world. The gathering even received the recognition and well wishes from Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The launch of the book Reconnecting Through Our Roots was held during the opening ceremony of 'The Easternization of the West' seminar on 27th July 2006 at the Melaka International Trade Center (MITC), Ayer Keroh, Malacca. The event was organised by The Melaka State Government, The Malaysian Institute of Historical and Patriotism Studies (IKSEP), the Institute of Occidental Studies (IKON) at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Malaysia.

The book was officiated with a presentation of a copy by Mr. Luc Schillings, the Deputy Ambassador of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Malaysia to Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, the Chief Minister of Malacca.

At the book launch, copies of the book were freely distributed to people and organisations who were involved in making the 2004 event a success. The book is not for sale to the public. Copies of the book are being distributed to libraries and resource centres of local heritage organisations, universities and public libraries, and to such organisations overseas, especially in the Netherlands.

Mr. Luc Schillings, the Deputy Ambassador of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Malaysia presenting a copy of 'Reconnecting Through Our Roots' to Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, the Chief Minister of Malacca.