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The Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies represented the Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies between 1610 and Dutch recognition of the independence of Indonesia in 1949.

The first Governors-General were appointed by the Dutch East India Company (VOC). After the VOC was formally dissolved in 1800,[1] the territorial possessions of the VOC were nationalised under the Dutch Government as the Dutch East Indies, a colony of the Netherlands. Governors-General were now appointed by either the Dutch monarch or the Dutch government. During the Dutch East Indies era most Governors-General were expatriate Dutchmen, while during the earlier VOC era most Governors-General became settlers who stayed and died in the East Indies.

Under the period of British control (1811-1816), the equivalent position was the Lieutenant-Governor, of whom the most notable is Thomas Stamford Raffles. Between 1942 and 1945, while Hubertus Johannes van Mook was the nominal Governor-General, the area was under Japanese control, and was governed by a two sequence of governors, in Java and Sumatra. After 1948 in negotiations for independence, the equivalent position was named High Commissioner of the Crown in the Dutch East Indies.

Position of the Governor-General

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Since the VOC era, the highest Dutch authority in the colonial possessions of the East Indies resided with the Office of the Governor-General. During the Dutch East Indies era the Governor-General functioned as colonial chief executive, president of colonial government, as well as commander-in-chief of the colonial (KNIL) army. Until 1903 all government officials and organisations were formal agents of the Governor-General and entirely dependent on the central administration of the Office of the Governor-General for their budgets.[2]

A Governor-General represented the Dutch Empire and Monarch and was the most influential party in the colony. Until 1815 the Governor-General had the absolute right to ban, censor or restrict any publication in the colony. The so-called Exorbitant powers of the Governor-General allowed him to exile anyone regarded as subversive and dangerous to peace and order, without involving any Court of Law.[3]

Until 1848 the Governor-General was directly appointed by the Dutch monarch, and in later years via the Crown and on advise of the Dutch metropolitan cabinet. During two periods (1815–1835 and 1854–1925) the Governor-General ruled jointly with an advisory board called the Raad van Indie (Indies Council).

Overall colonial policy and strategy were the responsibility of the Ministry of Colonies based in The Hague. Often headed by a former Governor-General. From 1815 to 1848 the Ministry was under direct authority of the Dutch King. In the 20th century the colony gradually developed as a state distinct from the Dutch metropole with treasury separated in 1903, public loans being contracted by the colony from 1913, and quasi diplomatic ties were established with Arabia to manage the Haji pilgrimage from the Dutch East Indies. In 1922 the colony came on equal footing with the Netherlands in the Dutch constitution, while remaining under the Ministry of Colonies.[4][5]

During the tenure of Governors-General who were proponents of the Ethical policy a People's Council called the Volksraad for the Dutch East Indies was installed in 1918. The Volksraad, an infant form of democratic council, was limited to an advisory role and only a small portion of the population were able to vote for its members. The Council comprised 30 indigenous members, 25 European and 5 from Chinese and other populations, and was reconstituted every four years. In 1925 the Volksraad was made a semilegislative body; and the Governor-General was expected to consult the Volksraad on major issues.[6]

List of Governors-General

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Dutch East India Company (1610–1800)

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Portrait Name
(Born-Died)
Term of office Notes
Start End
Pieter Both
(1568–1615)
19 December
1610
6 November
1614
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Gerard Reynst
(1568–1615)
6 November
1614
7 December
1615
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Laurens Reael
(1583–1637)
19 June
1616
21 March
1619
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Jan Pieterszoon Coen
(1587–1629)
30 April
1618
1 February
1623
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Pieter de Carpentier
(1586–1659)
1 February
1623
30 September
1627
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Jan Pieterszoon Coen
(1587–1629)
30 September
1627
21 September
1629
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Jacques Specx
(1585–1652)
25 September
1629
27 September
1632
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Hendrik Brouwer
(1581–1643)
27 September
1632
1 January
1636
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Anthony van Diemen
(1593–1645)
1 January
1636
19 April
1645
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Cornelis van der Lijn
(1608–1679)
19 April
1645
26 April
1650
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Carel Reyniersz
(1604–1653)
26 April
1650
19 May
1653
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Joan Maetsuycker
(1606–1678)
19 May
1653
4 January
1678
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Rijckloff van Goens
(1619–1682)
4 January
1678
25 November
1681
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Cornelis Speelman
(1628–1684)
25 November
1681
11 January
1684
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Johannes Camphuys
(1634–1695)
11 January
1684
24 September
1691
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Willem van Outhoorn
(1635–1720)
24 September
1691
15 August
1704
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Joan van Hoorn
(1653–1711)
15 August
1704
30 October
1709
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Abraham van Riebeeck
(1653–1713)
30 October
1709
17 November
1713
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Christoffel van Swoll
(1663–1718)
17 November
1713
12 November
1718
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Hendrick Zwaardecroon
(1667–1728)
13 November
1718
8 July
1725
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Mattheus de Haan
(1663–1729)
8 July
1725
1 June
1729
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Diederik Durven
(1676–1740)
1 June
1729
28 May
1732
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Dirck van Cloon
(1684–1735)
28 May
1732
10 March
1735
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Abraham Patras
(1671–1737)
11 March
1735
3 May
1737
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Adriaan Valckenier
(1695–1751)
3 May
1737
6 November
1741
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Johannes Thedens
(1680–1748)
6 November
1741
28 May
1743
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff
(1705–1750)
28 May
1743
1 November
1750
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Jacob Mossel
(1704–1761)
1 November
1750
15 May
1761
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Petrus Albertus
van der Parra

(1714–1775)
15 May
1761
28 December
1775
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Jeremias van Riemsdijk
(1712–1777)
28 December
1775
3 October
1777
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Reynier de Klerck
(1710–1780)
9 October
1778
1 September
1780
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Willem Arnold Alting
(1724–1800)
1 September
1780
17 February
1797
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
Pieter Gerardus
van Overstraten

(1755–1801)
16 August
1796
22 August
1801
Independent (Royal Yugoslav Army)
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  1. ^ Ricklefs, M.C. (1991). A History of Modern Indonesia Since c.1300, 2nd Edition. London: MacMillan. p. 110. ISBN 0-333-57689-6. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Cribb, R.B., Kahin, A. Historical dictionary of Indonesia (Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 2004) P.108
  3. ^ Cribb, R.B., Kahin, A. Historical dictionary of Indonesia (Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 2004) P.140
  4. ^ Cribb, R.B., Kahin, A. Historical dictionary of Indonesia (Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 2004) P.87
  5. ^ Cribb, R.B., Kahin, A. Historical dictionary of Indonesia (Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 2004) P.295
  6. ^ Harry J. Benda, S.L. van der Wal, "De Volksraad en de staatkundige ontwikkeling van Nederlandsch-Indië: The Peoples Council and the political development of the Netherlands-Indies." (With an introduction and survey of the documents in English). (Publisher: J.B. Wolters, Leiden, 1965.)