World War II and the former Dutch colonies

War and Exploitation - Activism and Independence Struggle

The Second World War brought great changes to the former colonies of Indonesia, Suriname and the six Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten. Changes that stimulated activism and resistance against the Netherlands as a colonial oppressor.

Immediately after the war and the capitulation of Japan, most Indonesians wanted to become independent, but the Netherlands fought a bloody war (1945-1949) in a vain attempt to retain the colony.

The aftermath and the impact of the colonial past to the present day are also discussed.