The Dutch government officially recognizes Indonesia’s independence “fully and unconditionally” on August 17, 1945. The ongoing dispute regarding the Dutch recognition of the Proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia stays a contentious issue. Historically, the Netherlands recognized the independence of the Republic of Indonesia on December 27, 1949, following the transfer of sovereignty based on the outcomes of the Round Table Conference.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated: “The Netherlands fully and unconditionally recognizes that Indonesia gained independence on August 17, 1945.” Rutte made this statement during a parliamentary discussion on decolonization research in 1945–1950. Following this confirmation, Mark Rutte assured that he would immediately contact President Joko Widodo to arrange a “mutual recognition” ceremony.
Rutte acknowledged that the Dutch government had consistently recognized Indonesia’s independence on August 17, 1945, with gestures corresponding to the king sending annual congratulatory telegrams to Indonesia. The Indonesian people see August 17, 1945 as a momentous occasion commemorating the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia just two days after the top of the Japanese occupation.
However, until at the least 2005, recognition of Dutch independence on 17 August 1945 was limited to “political and moral” recognition, but never full recognition.
The determined Dutch resistance to recognition of the Proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia gave rise to several assumptions, including fears that the Netherlands could be liable to significant compensation in reference to the events of “aggression” in 1945–1949.
By recognizing the independence of the Republic of Indonesia in 1945, the Netherlands robotically admits to attacking a sovereign nation. However, in maintaining claims of Indonesian independence in 1949, the Netherlands could argue that its actions were of a police nature, intended to guard the Dutch East Indies from civil unrest.
