In 1945, Indonesian revolutionaries declared independence after three centuries of Dutch colonization.

The #Netherlands responded with a brutal war that lasted from 1945-1949 and killed around 100,000 Indonesians.
The Netherlands eventually transferred full sovereignty on Dec. 27, 1949 – the date they have for decades recognized as #Indonesia’s Independence Day.
In 2022, a study found that Dutch forces committed widespread “war crimes” during the war, prompting then-Prime Minister Mark Rutte to apologize.
The following year, Rutte recognized Indonesia’s 1945 Independence Day – but the statement did not change the Dutch view that Indonesia only became fully sovereign in 1949.
Many Indonesians argue that without reparations and changes in how the Netherlands teaches its role in the colonization of Indonesia in schools, the apology and recognition are insufficient.