holdovertilaan

Holdovertilaan is a term used in the context of Dutch colonial history, particularly in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). It refers to the practice of Dutch colonial authorities retaining certain local officials, known as "holdover" officials, after the transfer of power from the Dutch to the Indonesian government in 1949. This practice was part of a broader strategy to maintain control and influence over the newly independent nation.

The holdover officials were typically chosen from the local elite and were given positions in the new Indonesian government. Their role was to act as intermediaries between the Dutch and the Indonesian government, ensuring that Dutch interests were protected and that the transition to independence was as smooth as possible. This strategy was seen as a way to prevent the kind of chaos and instability that had followed the end of colonial rule in other parts of the world.

The holdovertilaan policy was controversial and remains a subject of debate among historians and political scientists. Some argue that it helped to stabilize the transition to independence, while others contend that it was a form of neo-colonialism that undermined Indonesian sovereignty. Regardless of its merits, the holdovertilaan policy is an important part of the history of Dutch-Indonesian relations and the broader process of decolonization in Southeast Asia.