The Film Route of Stieve van Wichelen
As our programme offers so many films, we understand that it can sometimes be overwhelming for you as a visitor. To give you a helping hand, we’ve asked some well-known influencers to share which films they’re excited about at this festival.In this film route, Stieve van Wichelen, the driving force behind the Instagram account @nederlands_indie, takes us along a number of films that have a link with Indonesia. We spoke to him about his interest in history, the start of his account and his film choices. 17 March, 2025
Stieve has always had a fascination for the Dutch archives. “What struck me is that there are countless photos of the colonial past. They are often aesthetically impressive, but the story behind them remains underexposed,” he says. With his Instagram account @nederlands_indie, which now has more than 100,000 followers, he is trying to change that. “Many archive descriptions are written in Dutch and from a Western perspective. Five years ago I started this account to make a different sound. By posting in English, I build a bridge with Indonesia; About 80 percent of my followers come from there.”
Stieve himself is half-Indonesian; his mother moved to the Netherlands in the 70s for love. His background therefore differs from many people who identify as Indo-European or Indo-Dutch, although his ancestors did live in the Dutch East Indies. He himself does not think in such boxes, and he notices that this is also less common in Indonesia. “In general, people in Indonesia look forward more than back. But in my experience, there is a lot of interest in history, both among young and older generations.”
Stieve’s film tips show how versatile the stories from Indonesia are and how inextricably linked they are sometimes to the Netherlands.
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The Promise
Daan Veldhuizen
"My in-laws lived in Dutch New Guinea, so there is a connection with Papua within my family. I see that the fate of the Papuans receives little attention in the news and the broader geopolitical context. Hopefully this film will change that. In addition, the film contains beautiful archive material, which fits in well with my Instagram channel."
On Saturday 29 March there will be a screening in Filmhuis Den Haag, followed by a discussion afterwards. A delegation from the Papuan news outlet Jubi is present. This group is threatened and intimidated in Indonesia and will share its experiences with the public. -
Slave Island
Jimmy Hendrickx, Jeremy Kewuan
“This seems like a heavy film to me, but the subject offers an important insight into a hidden world. The centuries-old caste system actually made slavery possible, even long after it had been abolished and banned in the then Dutch East Indies. Yet it was turned a blind eye by the colonial administration.”
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Tussen wal en schip
Juliette Dominicus, Sven Peetoom
“In this documentary, three grandchildren of Indo-Dutch descent travel with their grandparents back to the place where they first arrived in the Netherlands. They start a conversation about why their grandparents never talked about that time – the silent legacy of the Indo-Dutch community.
What fascinates me is how different generations deal with this. The grandparents hardly talked about their experiences. The second generation often did not dare to ask questions, for fear of rekindling painful memories. The third generation has more distance and does ask those questions. I am curious about the different stories and how they deal with them. After the screening, there will be a discussion with the director and one of the grandchildren, which makes this film extra special.”
This film is part of the special 'Our Colonial History' where, in addition to this documentary, the film Bloodlines can also be seen. With a combi ticket you can visit both films for €22.
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