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Book 'All things Malaysian' launched at Rumah Malaysia in The Hague!

Marking ethnic boundaries among Malaysian Dutch Eurasians. (Research by Drs Pim ten Hoorn)

Portuguese and Luso-Asian legacies in SE Asia, 1511-2011. (Paper abstract by Dennis de Witt)

Research 2010/2011


Research by Leiden University on the Malaysian Dutch descendants will continue in 2011!

Community News


For recent community news, we like to refer to our group on Facebook

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Dutch Award for book: History of the Dutch in Malaysia
The book entitled 'History of the Dutch in Malaysia' by MDDP co-ordinator Dennis De Witt (published by Nutmeg Publishing) was awarded the Nederlandse Aanmoedigingsprijs voor Genealogie (Dutch incentive prize for Genealogy). The award ceremony was held at the Central Bureau of Genealogy at The Hague in the Netherlands on 23rd April 2009. For further information, visit the website www.nutmegpublishing.com/publication.html
Regarding the reasons why the book was awarded this prize, please see the video of the speech by Mr. Léon van der Hoeven, Chairman of the Prize Jury in the above website.


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Link with the Central Bureau of Genealogy
With the visit of Mr. Bert Lever, the director of the Central Bureau of Genealogy (CBG) to Malaysia on 26th July 2008, the MDDP has establsihed a link to the CBG. Some family genealogies of Malaysian Dutch descendants have been given to the CBG for their safekeeping and the MDDP will have closer links with the CBG for family research matters.


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Bereavements for Gary Westerhout and 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.


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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


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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).


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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.


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Tong Tong Fair 2013

Malaysians residing in the Netherlands might want to mark their calendar for the 55th Tong Tong Fair taking place from May 22 till June 2 in The Hague.

For more information:
Tongtongfair.nl & Tongtongfestival.nl