 | NEW PUBLICATION: BLACK SKIN, ORANGE HEART Five years of historical research at the National Archives in The Hague, combined with interviews and photo sessions with the oldest descendants of African soldiers who served in the Dutch Indies (present-day Indonesia), resulted in the publication 'Black skin, Orange heart'. (In Dutch: 'Zwarte huid, Oranje hart. Afrikaanse KNIL-nazaten in de diaspora'). The life stories of the African soldiers ('black Dutchmen') and their descendants in The Netherlands, the US, Surinam, Ghana and Indonesia have been documented as part of Dutch colonial history, complemented by stunningly beautiful portraits by photographer Armando Ello. Integral format / 17 x 24 cm 310 pages with ca. 150 illustrations and colour portraits NUR 688 / ISBN 978-90-89101-62-4, € 29,95 d'jonge Hond Publishers Zwolle ORDER THE BOOK ONLINE (dutch) English translation pending >> Video book launch on indisch4ever.web-log.nl (dutch) >> Review: athenaeum.nl (dutch) >> Publication: Radio Netherlands Worldwide (Indonesian) >> Publication: PZC newspapers, part 1 (dutch) >> Publication: PZC newspapers, part 2 (dutch) >> Publication: Moesson magazine, part 1 (dutch) >> Publication: Moesson magazine, part 2 (dutch) >> Web publication Indisch 3.0 (dutch) >> Radio interview SBS Australia (dutch) >> Radio interview Radio Netherlands Worldwide (dutch) >> Special window display in Amsterdam >> Information on National Archives documents ORDER GRISELDA'S PREVIOUS BOOKS ONLINE |
 | From New York to L.A Recently published, the hilarious 'From New York to L.A.' describes the adventures and experiences of two longtime friends, an L.A. based reporter and a documentary maker in New York. In 15 chapters, they share their thoughts on building a new life in a new country and American vs. Dutch culture. As a plus, the book includes a list of addresses for first-time visitors. Artemis Publishers Amsterdam, November 2007. Also available at Amazon.com and Bol.com. >> Read the first pages of the book (dutch) >> read more about the book (dutch) >> book review in BNDESTEM (dutch) >> book review in Dagblad van het Noorden (dutch) >> book review in ESTA MAGAZINE PDF (dutch) |
 | In the tracks of The Panther (Dutch title: In het voetspoor van De Panter) In the course of the 19th century, the Dutch colonial army in the Dutch Indies (present day Indonesia) is in serious need of strong recruits. The solution is found on the west coast of Africa where the Dutch government still owns a few old trading posts. A deal is closed in 1837 with the powerful Ashanti king who rules the vast region, but when the Asantahene fails to deliver the agreed 1000 recruits per year, the Dutch start recruiting young, strong African men on slave markets. Up till 1872, a group of 3000 African soldiers is recruited for service in the Dutch Indies. The Indonesian population calls them 'belanda hitam', 'black Dutchmen'. Most of them die during battle in the archipelago, a few hundred return to West Africa and the remaining soldiers stay in the main island of Java with their indigenous wives with whom they raise Indo-African families. When the colony of the Dutch Indies gains independence in 1949, most Indo-African families are forced to leave for Holland where they settle for a new life. The story of the 'belanda hitam' soldiers becomes an almost forgotten episode. For years, author Griselda Molemans wondered about the dark skin colour of her grandfather from the Dutch Indies, but failed to explain the origin. One day, an elderly Indo-African couple from the garrison town of Purworejo in Java, gives her a clue about her family name. What follows next is a suprising quest, leading from the National Archives in Holland to Burkina Faso, Ghana and Java and resulting in the discovery of the African founding father of the Molemans family. Dutch paperback / 13,5 x 21,5 cm 220 pages/ € 17,95 NUR 680 / ISBN 90 5018 696 3 September 2005, Balans Publishers Amsterdam English translation pending. Show the video >> |
 | Daughters of the Archipelago. (Dutch title: Dochters Van De Archipel) Much has been published on the 'first generation' women who were forced to leave the Dutch Indies after the colony gained independence in 1949, but never before did Indo-European, Moluccan, Chinese, Toraja, Papua and Indo-African women talk openly about the class society they grew up in, their youth in the 'golden days' of the colony, the Japanese occupation between 1942 and 1945 and the forced departure to Holland where they had to start a completely new life with their families. 'Daughters of the Archipelago' is a gripping book about women who conquered war, setbacks and sorrow and built a new life in a new country. Dutch paperback / 14 x 21 cm 221 pages with illustrations/ € 17,95 NUR 680 / ISBN 90 5018 646 7 November 2004, Balans Publishers Amsterdam English translation pending |
 | Heirs of the Dutch Indies (Dutch title: Erfgenamen van Indie) In 2005, Dutch broadcaster Teleac/NOT presented the series 'Heirs of the Dutch Indies' which comprises six episodes on the people and culture of the Dutch Indies. The first three episodes deal with the forced departure of respectively Indo-European, Moluccan and Papua refugees to Holland. The last three episodes focus on the legacy of the 'keroncong' music, the history of the 'Pasar Malam Besar' (the largest Eurasian festival in the world) and the youth culture of third generation Indo-Europeans. The book 'Heirs of the Dutch Indies' tells the stories of different generations, their past, culture and identity. Among the interviewees are writers Marion Bloem and Sylvia Pessireron, singer/songwriter Ernst Jansz and Papua lobbyist Viktor Kaisiepo. Dutch paperback/ 13,5 x 21 cm 143 pages with illustrations /€ 16,95 November 2004, Kosmos ZK Publishers Utrecht |
 | Conversations with Jan Wouters (Dutch title: In gesprek met Jan Wouters) A 'spoken biography' of Jan Wouters who joined the Dutch soccer team in 1982 which went on to win the European title in 1988. Next to 70 caps, the sturdy midfielder played for FC Utrecht, Ajax, Bayern Münich and PSV Eindhoven. Dutch paperback/ 3,5 x 21 cm 135 pages with illustrations 1994, Arena Publishers Amsterdam ORDER THE BOOK ONLINE Bol.com |