The History of the Dutch in Malaysia by author Dennis de Witt of the Malaysian Dutch Descendants Project commemorates Malaysia's 50th Merdeka, 50 years of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and the Netherlands and 4 centuries of friendship, diplomacy and commerce shared between the two nations. The book is written in the perspective of a Malaysian-Dutch Eurasian and it provides information about the intertwining historical and cultural influences of the Dutch in Malaysia.

The launch of the book, which is held on Tuesday 18 December 2007 at the National Library of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur at 2.00pm, will be jointly officiated by Puan Siti Zakiah Aman, Director-General of the National Library of Malaysia and H.E. Lody Embrechts, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Were the Dutch really the cruel colonists who drained Malacca's resopurces or were they like foreign expatriates who made the town their new home?

Were the Catholics in Malacca really persecuted by the Protestant Dutch?

Why did the Duthc come to Asia in the first place? What does the humble 'buah pala' (nutmeg) have to do with us and places like the Spice Islands, Mauritius, New York and Penang?

Did you know that historic Malacca is a place that was no longer supposed to exist? And have you ever heard of the legend of ancient tunnels beneath St. Paul's Hill?

Not everything Dutch in Malaysia can only be found in Malacca....did you know that there are remnants of the Dutch past in Linggi, Kuala Selangor, Pangkor Island, Perak and Penang?

Do you realise that there are only four existing Dutch descnedant communities left in the world from the time of the Dutch in Asia? How did the Dutch descnedants end up living in Malaysia? The answer to these questions can only be found in the history of our ancestors. But who were they?

Ancestors of the Dutch Eurasian de Wind, Koek and Westerhout families helped define Malacca's history during the time, although their contributions have now been forgotten. Who were they and what did they do? What are the origins of the other Dutch Eurasians?

When and why did the Ceylon Dutch Burghers come to Malaysia? What is their general genealogical connection to the Boers in South Africa? Did you know that there are also Malaysian-Dutch Eurasians who have theri roots in India and Indonesia?

After WWII, there were plans to establish a new country called Hollandia. Did you know that Hollandia was supposed to be a country for Eurasians, governed by Eurasians?

Could the Malaysian culture of calling our elders Uncle and Auntie be Dutch Eurasian in origin?

Find out the answers to these questions and much, much more in the book History of the Dutch in Malaysia.

For further details regarding the book, please visit the publisher's website at  www.nutmegpublishing.com/publication.html.

After the launch, copies of the book may only be obtained from the Publisher, Badan warisan Malaysia (Jalan Stonor, KL & No. 8, Heeren Street, Malacca), the Maritime Archaeology Museum (located next to Chrtist Church, Malacca) and the Penang Heritage Trust (Church Street, Penang). For those in the Netherlands, orders for the book may be placed with the  Vereniging Nederland-Maleisië.

Date: 18 December 2007

Location

National Library of Malaysia, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur