Remco Vermeulen - Revitalisation of Dutch Colonial Urban Spaces

Talking Indonesia

Some of the most challenging issues post-colonial societies face involve managing the physical remnants of their colonial histories. In Indonesia, centuries of colonialism left many buildings and spaces with strong colonial identities. While some of these spaces are now abandoned and forgotten, others are being remembered and revitalised. In this episode, Tito Ambyo speaks with Remco Vermeulen, a PhD candidate at Erasmus University Rotterdam and coordinator of international cooperation in collection management at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. Remco's professional experience informed his presentation at the EuroSEAS conference in Amsterdam this year on the revitalisation of Dutch colonial urban spaces in Indonesia. His ongoing PhD research examines how young Indonesians interact with and perceive these revitalised spaces. Remco shares fascinating insights from his research survey and visits to Dutch colonial buildings in various Indonesian cities. His findings reveal an intriguing disconnect: while many young Indonesians view Dutch colonialism negatively, they often appreciate the aesthetic and functional aspects of colonial architecture. In 2024, the Talking Indonesia podcast is co-hosted by Dr Elisabeth Kramer from the University of New South Wales, Dr Jemma Purdey from the Australia-Indonesia Centre, Dr Jacqui Baker from Murdoch University, and Tito Ambyo from RMIT.