Administrative divisions of the Dutch East Indies

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The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now mostly the modern state of Indonesia. The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824, which ceded Dutch Malacca, a governorate of the Dutch East Indies that was transferred to Great Britain has consolidated modern-day rule to the Malacca state of Malaysia. It was divided into three governorates, namely the Great East, Borneo (Kalimantan) and Sumatra, and into three provinces in Java. Provinces and governorates were further divided into residencies. Residencies under the provinces were divided into regencies (Dutch : regentschappen), and residencies under governorates were divided into departments (Dutch : Afdeelingen, modern spelling afdelingen) and then further into regentschappen. [1]

Contents

The following list is the divisions of the Dutch East Indies in 1942, prior to the Japanese occupation in World War II.

Sumatra

In 1938, all of the various Residencies and Gouvernements in Sumatra were reorganized under the new Gouvernement of Sumatra. [2]

NamePopulation
(1930)
Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameResidency
Residentie Atjèh en OnderhoorighedenAceh Atjeh and Dependencies Residency 1,003,06255392.23 Aceh, comprising the divisions (afdeeling) of Groot-Atjèh, Noordkust van Atjèh, Oostkust van Atjèh and Westkust van Atjèh. State of Trumon
Residentie TapanoeliTapanuli Tapanoeli Residency 1,042,58339076.87western part of North Sumatra, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Sibolga en Omstreken, Nias en omliggend eiland, Bataklanden and Padang Sidempoean none
Residentie Oostkust van SumatraSumatra Timur Sumatra's East Coast Residency 1,693,20094583.25eastern part of North Sumatra and northern part of Riau, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Langkat, Deli en Serdang, Asahan, Simaloengoen en Karolanden and Bengkalis; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Medan, Bindjai, Tebing Tinggi, Tandjoengbalai and Pematangsiantar Langkat Sultanate, Deli Sultanate, Serdang Sultanate, Asahan Sultanate, Panei Sultanate, Siak Sultanate, and Pelalawan Sultanate
Residentie Sumatra's WestkustSumatra Barat Sumatra's West Coast Residency 1,910,29849778.10 West Sumatra including Mentawai Islands, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Tanah Datar, Agam, Solok, Limapoeloe Koto, and Zuid Benedenlanden; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Padang, Fort de Kock, and Sawahloento none
Residentie Riouw en OnderhoorighedenRiau Riouw and Dependencies Residency 298,22531668.44southern part of Riau and Riau Islands, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Indragiri and Tandjoengpinang Indragiri Sultanate
Residentie DjambiJambi Djambi Residency 245,27244923.76 Jambi, consisting of the division (afdeeling) of Djambi none
Residentie BenkoelenBengkulu Benkoelen Residency 323,12326249.39 Bengkulu, consisting of the division (afdeeling) of Benkoelen none
Residentie PalembangPalembang Palembang Residency 1,098,72586355.65 South Sumatra, consist of the divisions (afdeeling) of Palembang Bovenlanden, Palembang Benedenlanden, and Ogan en Komering-oeloe; and with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Palembang none
Residentie Bangka en OnderhoorighedenBangka Bangka and Dependencies Residency 278,79216774.70 Bangka and Belitung Islands, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Bangka and Billiton none
Residentie Lampongsche DistrictenLampung Lampong Districts Residency 361,56328783.74 Lampung, consisting of the division (afdeeling) of Teloekbetoeng none

Java

Java comprised three provinces,[ citation needed ] West, Middle and East Java, the boundaries of which were similar to the island's pre-2000 boundaries.[ citation needed ]

West Java

Under control of Governorate of West Java (Gouvernement West-Java)

NamePopulation
(1930)
Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameResidency
Residentie BantamBanten Bantam Residency 1,028,628n/a Banten consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Serang, Lebak and Pandeglang none
Residentie BataviaBetawi Batavia Residency 2,637,035n/a Jakarta and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Batavia (includes Tangerang and its surrounding city and regency), Meester-Cornelis (includes most of current West Jakarta and Bekasi) and Krawang (includes Purwakarta); with municipality (stadsgemeente) of Batavia none
Residentie BuitenzorgBogor Buitenzorg Residency 2,212,997n/a Bogor, Sukabumi and Cianjur, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Buitenzorg, Soekaboemi and Tjiandjoer; with municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Buitenzorg and Soekaboemi none
Residentie Preanger-RegentschappenPriangan Preanger Regencies Residency 3,448,796n/a Bandung and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bandoeng, Soemedang, Tasikmalaja, Tjiamis and Garoet; with municipality (stadsgemeente) of Bandoeng none
Residentie CheribonCirebon Cheribon Residency 2,069,690n/a Cirebon and surroundings, consisting of regencies (regentschap) of Cheribon, Koeningan, Indramajoe and Madjalengka; and with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Cheribon none

Central Java

Under control of Governorate of Middle Java (Gouvernement Midden-Java):

NamePopulation
(1930)
Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameResidency
Residentie PekalonganPekalongan Pekalongan Residency 2,640,124n/a Pekalongan, Tegal and surroundings, consisting of regencies (regentschap) of Pekalongan, Batang, Pemalang, Tegal and Brebes; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Pekalongan and Tegal none
Residentie BanjoemasBanyumas Banjoemas Residency 2,474,447n/a Banyumas, Purwokerto and surroundings, consist of the regencies (regentschap) of Banjoemas, Poerwokerto, Tjilatjap and Bandjarnegara none
Residentie KedoeKedu Kedoe Residency 2,129,894n/a Magelang and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Magelang, Wonosobo, Temanggoeng, Poerworedjo and Keboemen; and with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Magelang none
Residentie SamarangSemarang Semarang Residency 2,020,684n/aThe Semarang metropolitan area (Kedungsepur), consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Samarang, Kendal, Demak and Grobogan; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Samarang and Salatiga none
Residentie Djepara-RembangJepara-Rembang Djepara-Rembang Residency 1,876,480n/a Jepara, Rembang and surroundings, consisting of regencies (regentschap) of Pati, Djepara, Rembang, Blora and Koedoes none

East Java

Under control of Governorate of East Java (Gouvernement Oost-Java):

NamePopulation
(1930)
Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameResidency
Residentie MadioenMadiun Madioen Residency 1,909,801n/a Madiun and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Madioen, Magetan, Ngawi, Ponorogo and Patjitan; and with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Madioen none
Residentie BodjonegoroBojonegoro Bodjonegoro Residency 1,986,129n/a Bojonegoro and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bodjonegoro, Toeban and Lamongan none
Residentie KediriKediri Kediri Residency 2,469,955n/a Kediri and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Kediri, Ngandjoek, Blitar and Toeloengagoeng; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Kediri and Blitar none
Residentie SoerabajaSurabaya Soerabaja Residency 1,902,953n/aThe Surabaya metropolitan area, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Soerabaja, Sidoardjo, Modjokerto and Djombang; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Soerabaja and Modjokerto none
Residentie MalangMalang Malang Residency 2,741,105n/a Malang, Probolinggo and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Malang, Pasoeroean, Probolinggo and Loemadjang; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Malang, Pasoeroean and Probolinggo none
Residentie BesoekiBesuki Besoeki Residency 2,083,309n/a Banyuwangi and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bondowoso, Panaroekan, Djember and Banjoewangi none
Residentie MadoeraMadura Madoera Residency 1,962,462n/a Madura, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bangkalan, Pamekasan and Soemenep none

Borneo

In 1938 both of these Residencies were again united in a Governorate of Borneo (Gouvernement van Borneo) with its capital at Banjarmasin.

NamePopulation
(1930)
Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameResidency
Residentie Westerafdeeling van BorneoKalimantan Barat Western Afdeelings of Borneo Residency 802,447n/a West Kalimantan, consisting of the Afdeelingen of Singkawang, Pontianak, Ketapang and Sintang Sambas Sultanate, Pontianak Sultanate, Lordship of Koeboe, Lordship of Landak, Lordship of Mampawa, Lordship of Matan, Lordship of Sanggau, Lordship of Sekadau, Lordship of Selimbau, Lordship of Simpang, Lordship of Sintang, Lordship of Soekadana and Lordship of Tajan
Residentie Zuider en Oosterafdeeling van BorneoKalimantan Selatan dan Timur Southern and Eastern Afdeelings of Borneo Residency 1,366,214n/a Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan, consisting of the afdeelingen of Koeala Kapoeas, Bandjermasin, Hoeloe Soengei, Samarinda and Boeloengan en Berau; with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Bandjermasin Principality of Kota Waringin, Principality of Pasir, Koetei Sultanate, Boeloengan Sultanate, Sambalioeng Sultanate, Goenoeng Taboer Sultanate

The Great East

The governorate of the Great East (Dutch: 'Gouvernement Groote Oost') was created in 1938. It comprised the islands to the east of Borneo and Java, including the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, Maluku and Western New Guinea.

Lesser Sunda Islands

NamePopulation
(1930)
Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameResidency
Residentie Bali en LombokBali dan Lombok Bali and Lombok Residency 1,802,683n/a Bali and Lombok, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Singaradja, Zuid Bali and Lombok Kloengkoeng Kingdom with primacy over several small states in Bali and Lombok
Residentie Timor en OnderhoorighedenTimor Timor and Dependencies Residency 1,657,376n/a West Nusa Tenggara East of Lombok and East Nusa Tenggara, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Soembawa, Soemba, Flores and Timor en eilanden Soembawa Sultanate, Bima Sultanate and several small states

Sulawesi

NamePopulation
(1930)
Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameResidency
Residentie Celebes en OnderhoorighedenSulawesi Celebes and Dependencies Residency 3,093,251n/a South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi, consisting of the afdeelingen of Soenggoeminasa, Bonthain, Makassar, Bone, Parepare, Mandar, and Loewoe, Boetoeng en Laiwoei and with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Makassar Gowa Sultanate, Boetoeng Sultanate Lordship of Banggai, Lordship of Bone, Lordship of Loewoe, Lordship of Sidenreng, Lordship of Soppeng, Lordship of Wadjo, Lordship of Moena and other smaller states
Residentie MenadoManado Manado Residency 1,138,665n/a Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi, consisting of the afdeelingen of Poso, Donggala, Gorontalo, Menado and Sangihe en Talaud eiland with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Menado none

Maluku and Western New Guinea

In 1922 with the dissolution of Residentie Ternate to Residentie Amboina, Residentie Amboina was renamed to Residentie Molukken. In 1935, the residentie was renamed to Governorate of the Moluccas (Gouvernement Molukken) until the creation of Gouvernement Groote Oost in 1938, in which Gouvernement Molukken became residentie again.

NamePopulation
(1930)
Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameDepartment
Afdeeling TernateTernate Ternate Afdeeling 560,013n/a North Maluku Ternate Sultanate, Tidore Sultanate and Batjan Sultanate
Afdeeling AmboinaAmbon Amboina Afdeeling 560,013 (with Tual)n/a Maluku at least a small state, State of Amahusu
Afdeeling ToealTualAfdeeling of Tual0n/a Southeast Maluku none
Afdeeling Nieuw-Guinea(Dutch) New Guinea New Guinea Afdeeling 333,387(with South New-Guinea)n/a West Papua and Papua none
Afdeeling Zuid Nieuw-Guinea(Dutch) Southern New Guinea South New Guinea Afdeeling 0n/aSouthern part of West Papua and Papua State of Kaimana

Malay Peninsula

Malacca

The governorate of Malacca (Gouvernement Malacca) was a part of the Dutch East Indies (1818-1825), before finally handing it to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland based on Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824.

NamePopulation (1824)Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameResidency
Residentie MalaccaMelaka Malacca Residency ~40,0001664 Malacca City and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Melaka Tengah, Jasin and Alor Gajah Sultanate of Johor

Vorstenlanden

Vorstenlanden were four native states on the island of Java in the Netherlands Indies that were nominally self-governing under suzerainty of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Their political autonomy was however severely constrained by treaties and settlements. Two of them were the Governorate of Djokjakarta and the Governorate of Soerakarta, which controlled the Residentie Djokjakarta and the Residenties of Soerakarta and Klaten respectively.

NamePopulation
(1930)
Area
(km2)
Modern areaPrincely state(s)
Dutch nameLocal nameResidency
Residentie DjokjakartaYogyakarta Djokjakarta Residency 1,559,027n/a Yogyakarta, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Adikarto, Pakoealaman, Koelon-Progo, Jogjakarta, Bantoel and Goenoeng-Kidul Jogjakarta Sultanate and Duchy of Pakoe Alaman
Residentie SoerakartaSurakarta Soerakarta Residency 2,564,848 (with Klaten)n/a Surakarta, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Sragen, Soerakarta, Kota Mangkoenagaran and Wonogiri Soerakarta Sunanate and Duchy of Mangkoe Negaran
Residentie KlatenKlaten Klaten Residency 0n/aconsisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Klaten and Bojolali Soerakarta Sunanate

References

  1. "Chapter 4: The Netherlands Indies, 1800-1942 | Digital Atlas of Indonesian History - by Robert Cribb". Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012., sourced from Cribb, R. B (2010), Digital atlas of indonesian history, Nias, ISBN   978-87-91114-66-3 from the earlier volume Cribb, R. B; Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (2000), Historical atlas of Indonesia, Curzon; Singapore : New Asian Library, ISBN   978-0-7007-0985-4
  2. Cribb, R. B. (2000). Historical atlas of Indonesia. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. p. 128. ISBN   0-8248-2111-4.