On microfiche
A series from the National Archives of the Netherlands
The end of the second World War in Asia in August 1945 was followed on 17th of that month by the proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia by Sukarno and Hatta. The Dutch government was unwilling to grant independence, however, and attempted to reassert its authority in the colony it had held for some 350 years. A complicated period of negotiations and civil war ensued, marked by two "police actions" by the Dutch and increasing intervention by the international community, finally resulting in the transfer of sovereignty to the Republic in December 1949.
With the events of decolonization now a half century behind us, many of the archives of leading figures and bodies on the Dutch side in this period have already been opened or will be in the coming years. In cooperation with the National Archives of the Netherlands, MMF has launched a continuing series to make such papers available on microfiche. With the recent completion of the 20-volume series Officiële bescheiden betreffende de Nederlands-Indonesische betrekkingen 1945-1950, a selection of sources has been made available in print. With the inauguration of this new series on microfiche, researchers will be able to broaden and deepen their studies by drawing on the relevant archives in their entirety.
In consultation with archivists of the National Archives of the Netherlands the materials for micropublication are currently being identified. At present more than 30 archives of individuals or organs are under consideration. They range from the papers of prime ministers and foreign secretaries concerned in the process of decolonization to those of officials at the local level charged with maintaining public order. Chronologically the series will concentrate on the decade of the 1940s, but will include earlier and later materials to provide context and background. Publication will take place over the next 5 to 10 years as the different archives become open to the public. The plans call for issuing the series in parts consisting of several hundred microfiches each. Smaller collections will be grouped together to form parts when necessary and at least two or three parts will become available each year. It will be possible to buy parts selectively or to subscribe to the series on a standing order basis.
Finding aids to all parts: printed inventory and eye-legible headers on the microfiches