Van der Heijden’s pacification of Groot-Atjeh (1874-1875/76) was an event in the history of Aceh recorded by Jongejan in Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu. In 1874, General van der Heijden was given both civilian and military authority in the conquered area.
Date and Context
The event is dated to 1874-1875/76.
Account
In 1874, General van der Heijden was given both civilian and military authority in the conquered area. In slightly more than 1.5 years, this strong leader effectively subdued Groot-Atjeh, banished unrest, and gave the population confidence. Had a strong but wise policy been adopted by the highest authorities in the Netherlands, the whole territory might have been subdued in relatively short time. However, heavy war burdens and fears of outsiders led the Dutch government to adopt a hesitant, wait-and-see attitude.
Significance
The event is recorded by Jongejan as part of the broader historical narrative of Aceh and the Atjeh conflict period. It illustrates the complex interplay of local Atjehers politics, Dutch colonial administration, and the religious and military leadership that shaped the region’s history.
Account from Verstege’s Een beroep op het Nederlandsche volk (1886)
Verstege’s fourth chapter is the amplest commend of the completed work (full narrative at Karel van der Heijden): the war waged “on the manner of war” brought, from 23 March 1879 to 5 September 1879, the whole of Groot-Atjeh under Dutch control, a success “dat de stoutste verwachtingen had overtroffen” (“that had surpassed the boldest expectations”), for “deze veldtochten hadden den Atjehers het onomstootelijk bewijs geleverd, dat elk punt, hoe ver ook verwijderd, hoeveel terreinhindernissen ook opleverend, met welke doodsverachting ook verdedigd, voor onze volhardende en beleidvol aangevoerde soldaten bereikbaar was” (“these campaigns had given the Atjehers the irrefutable proof that every point, however far removed, however many terrain obstacles it presented, however contemptuous of death it was defended, was within reach of our persevering and wisely led soldiers”). After the campaigns followed the manifestations of the quiet: the day order of 5 September 1879 (“Gheel Groot-Atjeh ten onder gebracht” — “All Great-Atjeh subdued”); Boumeester’s shot-free inspection (19 August-20 September); the submission letters of Toekoe Moeda Daoed guided by Toekoe Kadli (July), the march to Selimoen with its triumphal return (15-20 August); the swearing-in of Toekoe Nja Abbas Setia Oelama (24 January 1880), the coming over of Potjoet Abbas (July 1880), the homage of the heads to the general after the close of the fast (4 October 1880), the reception of Toengkoe Sjech Marabahan (7 March 1881); and the mosque foundation of 9 October 1879 with its kendoerie (see Laying of the first stone of Meusigit Raja). Van der Heyden’s letter of 20 August 1879 names the very danger that was to ruin the result: “Een overijlde maatregel, als gevolg van eene te groote zucht tot bezuiniging, zou oorzaak kunnen zijn, dat alles wat in den laatsten tijd verricht is, eene ongedane zaak was” (“A hasty measure, resulting from too great a desire of economy, might cause that all that has been achieved in the latest time would be an undone thing”), “het hervormingsproces van de bevolking moet geleid en bewaakt worden door een krachtvol bestuur, gesteund door eene voldoende troepenmacht” (“the reforming process of the population must be led and guarded by a powerful government, supported by a sufficient troop force”); his Nota of 19 April 1880 held the same warnings — unheeded, until the arrangement of 11 March 1881 brought the fatal turn. Verstege’s irony notes the discordant statistics which accompanied this “peace”: the population of Groot-Atjeh, once 800,000 (Ministerial statement) or 125,000 (van Swieten), was 50,000 in 1881, and the Koloniaal Verslag of 1885 gave the total for the Atjehsche people at the end of 1883 again “only” as 575,000 souls (100,000 for Groot-Atjeh).
See Also
Source
Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu, by J. Jongejans, Oud-Resident van het Gewest Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden, with a foreword by Dr. H. Colijn (Baarn: Hollandia Drukkerij N.V., c. 1938), pp. 39.
Een beroep op het Nederlandsche volk in zake het Atjeh-vraagstuk, door J. J. W. E. Verstege (Amsterdam: J. H. de Bussy, 1886), pp. 59-73. OCR: DLP-158.