Bas Veth: A Controversial Critic of the Dutch East Indies

 

The Dutch East Indies, often romanticized as a paradise of natural beauty and a lucrative colony, was not universally adored. Among the myriad voices of admiration and praise, one voice stood out in stark contrast—Bastiaan “Bas” Veth. His only book, “Het Leven in Nederlandsch-Indië” (1900), offered a scathing critique of life in the Dutch East Indies, making him a notorious figure in early 20th-century Dutch literature.

Veth’s view of the Dutch East Indies was anything but idyllic. He described his twelve years in the archipelago as akin to living in exile, a nightmare from which he longed to escape. For him, the ever-green nature and perpetual blue skies were not sources of inspiration but elements that dulled the mind and spirit. Unlike his contemporaries, who lauded the tropical paradise, Veth found the environment monotonous and oppressive.

He compared the tropical landscape unfavorably to that of Europe, longing for the seasonal changes and vibrant life of the European countryside. For Veth, the Dutch East Indies’ nature was symbolized by the banyan tree—a giant, unmoving, and lifeless entity. This stark image contrasted sharply with his idealized memories of the European landscape, full of joy, movement, and seasonal variety.

Veth’s disdain extended to the people of the Dutch East Indies, both natives and Europeans. He advised European men to avoid relationships with native women, whom he saw as unsuitable partners. He believed that Europeans and natives were fundamentally different, with a mixing of cultures leading to disaster. His harsh words painted a picture of deep-seated racism and cultural superiority, common sentiments among colonials of the era but expressed with unusual bluntness.

He coined a term for Dutch colonials, “De Indischman,” whom he characterized as swindlers, driven solely by the pursuit of wealth. According to Veth, Europeans in the Dutch East Indies were there only for business, seeking to exploit the resources and people for profit. The real beneficiaries of the colony’s wealth were not those toiling in the tropics but the capitalists in Europe, living comfortably off the dividends from their colonial investments.

Veth did not spare the European bureaucracy in the Dutch East Indies from his criticism. He saw it as a hierarchical system where everyone, regardless of their actual importance, tried to assert their authority. This bureaucratic culture, according to Veth, was maintained by suppressing dissent and rewarding corruption.

Hotels in the Dutch East Indies also came under his scrutiny. He described them as substandard, with poor hygiene and inadequate services. His depiction of the Sumatra Hotel in Padang, for instance, painted a picture of a place fit only for the most insensitive of colonials, rife with filth and discomfort.

“Het Leven in Nederlandsch-Indië” was both popular and controversial, prompting a flood of criticism and even the coining of a new Dutch term, “basvetterij,” meaning to undermine or mock. Despite—or perhaps because of—this controversy, the book became a bestseller and was printed four times.

Bas Veth’s work provided a rare and critical perspective on colonial life, challenging the dominant narrative of the Dutch East Indies as a paradise. His harsh, unfiltered observations offered a glimpse into the less glamorous aspects of colonialism, highlighting issues of exploitation, racism, and cultural arrogance. Although his views were extreme and often offensive, they contributed to the broader discourse on colonialism and its impacts, forcing readers to confront the darker side of the colonial experience.