Stadsverbeteraars in Indië en Indonesië: Continuïteit en verandering van het kampongvraagstuk

This dissertation about Urban Improvers in the Dutch Indies and Indonesia (Stadsverbeteraars in Indië en Indonesië) explores the ongoing challenges of the kampung improvement (kampongverbetering) policies in Indonesia tracing back from colonial times. Divided in three main parts each is focusing on a different period with all the aspects of the so-called kampung question (kampongvraagstuk) dominating the urban development in colonial and post-colonial times. The first part (1903-1927) called The Rise (De Opkomst) is focusing on the decentralization process in order to modernize local governance. Financial constraints imposed by the central government and by the autonomy of the desa within the municipal boundaries posed significant challenges to improve the poor housing conditions of the urban kampungs. Highlighted is the struggle to balance local governments with the overarching colonial administration scornful mentioned as Buitenzorg, the then seat of the governor-general in present day city of Bogor. The advocacy of European interests by dominating local governance was sidelining the needs of the indigenous people. Their protest movements were considered as troublemaking to cover up wakening Indonesian nationalism. Heated debates with regard to the kampung improvement policies were the order of the day at all government levels. Clashes of prominent figures like Rückert, a real Dutch bureaucrat and finance expert, and Hoesni Thamrin, a well to do Indonesian nationalist, are elaborated in this part to bring about the complexity of colonial ruled Indies. In the second part (1927-1942) referred to as The Processing (De Verwerking) the central government introduced bylaws to regulate the kampung improvement but financial and administrative hurdles persisted. Moreover, land ownership and speculation were hindering the efforts of local governments to improve their kampongs. Louder and stronger became the call for central government intervention. On city planning a special ordinance was presented followed a report of the kampong improvement committee. The ordinance was more or less a land use planning act of which the implementation was considered doubtful by authorities and experts. The report on kampung improvement was more practical by distributing the available funds over municipalities on Java. Both these policy documents were the last issued before the outbreak of the Japanese war in 1942. The Follow-up (Het Vervolg), part 3 (1942 till nowadays) shows the disruption of the kampong improvement during Japanese occupation leading to further deterioration of the kampong living conditions. Anticipating a national policy, the Kampung Improvement Program (KIP) in Jakarta initiated in 1969 operates over a long period with substantial international support in finance and advisory services. It is highlighted as a major success gaining international recognition related to Ali Sadikin, the then governor of Jakarta. Meanwhile, real estate developers dropped an eye on the improved kampungs with registered landownership. With the urban renewal, gentrification is lurking making the future of the urban kampungs uncertain. Promising is the Organisasi Rakjat, peoples own organization. From this study it is evident that decentralization initiated by the Dutch colonial bureaucracy has been the main vehicle to improve the urban kampungs during colonial and post-colonial times.