TROPIC TRAVELERS: History

Dutch Colonialism

A sad Story from

Peutjoet Kerkoff gate

The Dutch graveyard. Kerkhof Putschhut was the largest military graveyard in the Dutch East Indies. In the entrance gate, names of all the soldiers who died in battle are engraved.

Note the letters behind their names. E stands for European, I for Inlander, or native, and there are even a couple of AFRs, African Recruits, from the Dutch colonies in Ghana. In the 1970s, this graveyard was completely overgrown and neglected.

A former officer of the colonial army started a foundation to keep the graveyard from disappearing completely. The foundation, based in the Netherlands, currently pays for the maintenance of Kerkhof Putschhut. On the left side of the gate lives the caretaker.

For those who are interested in learning more about the graveyard and the people who are buried here, he sells a beautifully illustrated visitor's guide. Before we enter the graveyard, let's listen to a description of a funeral written by Lieutenant Faubel in 1896. At the gate of Putschhut, all officers who are in town are present, usually over a hundred people.

The train drives slowly and blows the steam horn when it gets close. All soldiers salute, the drums roll. Then the coffin is taken from the train.

The sword, hat, and medals of the deceased are placed on top of the coffin. Soldiers carry it through the gate while a brass band plays. Finally, the coffin is put in the ground.

Hats are taken off. Ceremonial gunshots are not allowed in Aachen as everyone is very edgy with all the Aachenese surprise attacks. We also need to save ammunition.

Still, a military funeral at Putschhut leaves a big impression. Many tough soldiers who probably went to battle with the deceased are crying openly. Kerkhof Putschhut is a wonderful place to stroll around, with or without a visitor's guide.

Do not forget to take a look at the grave that is marked with the small sign, 42. Just follow the main path and take a right at the end. Here lies Henry de Brun, who once was a decorated officer in the colonial army.

In 1902, he only had one more tour of duty to fulfill before he would marry the daughter of the colonial in Kotoraja. But Henry was ambushed by the Aachenese and died because he was stabbed in the stomach. His body arrived in Kotoraja on the day he was supposed to get married.

His bride, who didn't yet know he was dead, was waiting for him, dressed in her bridal veil. Governor Van Hetz had to go to her and break the news. He said, my child, de Brun has arrived, but he's going to Putschhut and not to you.

Now, over a hundred years later, Henry de Brun is still in Kotoraja. According to legend, his bride never remarried. She died many years later and is buried in an unmarked grave behind him.