Administrative divisions of the Dutch East Indies explained

The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824, which ceded Dutch Malacca, a governorate of the Dutch East Indies that was transferred to Great Britain has consolidated modern-day rule to the Malacca state of Malaysia. It was divided into three governorates, namely the Great East, Borneo (Kalimantan) and Sumatra, and into three provinces in Java. Provinces and governorates were further divided into residencies. Residencies under the provinces were divided into regencies (Dutch; Flemish: regentschappen), and residencies under governorates were divided into departments (Dutch; Flemish: Afdeelingen, modern spelling Dutch; Flemish: afdelingen) and then further into Dutch; Flemish: regentschappen.^[1]

The following list is the divisions of the Dutch East Indies in 1942, prior to the Japanese occupation in World War II.

Sumatra

In 1938, all of the various Residencies and Gouvernements in Sumatra were reorganized under the new Gouvernement of Sumatra.^[2]

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km^2)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden	Indonesian: Aceh	Atjeh and Dependencies Residency		55392.23	Aceh, comprising the divisions (afdeeling) of Aceh Besar, North Aceh, East Aceh and West Aceh.	State of Tarumon
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Tapanoeli	Indonesian: Tapanuli	Tapanoeli Residency		39076.87	western part of North Sumatra, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Sibolga en Omstreken, Nias en omliggend eiland, Bataklanden and Padang Sidempoean	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Oostkust van Sumatra	Indonesian: Sumatra Timur	Sumatra's East Coast Residency		94583.25		Langkat Sultanate, Deli Sultanate, Serdang Sultanate, Asahan Sultanate, Panei Sultanate, Siak Sultanate and Pelalawan Sultanate
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Sumatra's Westkust	Indonesian: Sumatra Barat	Sumatra's West Coast Residency		49778.10	West Sumatra including Mentawai Islands, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Tanah Datar, Agam, Solok, Limapoeloe Koto and Zuid Benedenlanden; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Padang, Bukittinggi and Sawahloento	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Riouw en Onderhoorigheden	Indonesian: Riau	Riouw and Dependencies Residency		31668.44	southern part of Riau and Riau Islands, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Indragiri and Tandjoengpinang	Indragiri Sultanate
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Djambi	Indonesian: Jambi	Djambi Residency		44923.76	Jambi, consisting of the division (afdeeling) of Djambi	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Benkoelen	Indonesian: Bengkulu	Benkoelen Residency		26249.39	Bengkulu, consisting of the division (afdeeling) of Benkoelen	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Palembang	Indonesian: Palembang	Palembang Residency		86355.65	South Sumatra, consist of the divisions (afdeeling) of Palembang Bovenlanden, Palembang Benedenlanden and Ogan en Komering-oeloe; and with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Palembang	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Bangka en Onderhoorigheden	Indonesian: Bangka	Bangka and Dependencies Residency		16774.70	Bangka and Belitung Islands, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Bangka and Billiton	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Lampongsche Districten	Indonesian: Lampung	Lampong Districts Residency		28783.74	Lampung, consisting of the division (afdeeling) of Teloekbetoeng	none

Java

Java comprised three provinces, West, Middle and East Java, the boundaries of which were similar to the island's pre-2000 boundaries.

West Java

Under control of Governorate of West Java (Gouvernement West-Java)

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km^2)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Bantam	Indonesian: Banten	Bantam Residency		n/a	Banten consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Serang, Lebak and Pandeglang	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Batavia	Indonesian: Betawi	Batavia Residency		n/a	Jakarta and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Batavia (includes Tangerang and its surrounding city and regency), Meester-Cornelis (includes most of current West Jakarta and Bekasi) and Krawang (includes Purwakarta); with municipality (stadsgemeente) of Batavia	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Buitenzorg	Indonesian: Bogor	Buitenzorg Residency		n/a	Bogor, Sukabumi and Cianjur, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Buitenzorg, Soekaboemi and Tjiandjoer; with municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Buitenzorg and Soekaboemi	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Preanger-Regentschappen	Indonesian: Priangan	Preanger Regencies Residency		n/a	Bandung and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bandoeng, Soemedang, Tasikmalaja, Tjiamis and Garoet; with municipality (stadsgemeente) of Bandoeng	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Cheribon	Indonesian: Cirebon	Cheribon Residency		n/a	Cirebon and surroundings, consisting of regencies (regentschap) of Cheribon, Koeningan, Indramajoe and Madjalengka; and with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Cheribon	none

Central Java

Under control of Governorate of Middle Java (Gouvernement Midden-Java):

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km^2)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Pekalongan	Indonesian: Pekalongan	Pekalongan Residency		n/a	Pekalongan, Tegal and surroundings, consisting of regencies (regentschap) of Pekalongan, Batang, Pemalang, Tegal and Brebes; and with the municipalities(stadsgemeente) of Pekalongan and Tegal	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Banjoemas	Indonesian: Banyumas	Banjoemas Residency		n/a	Banyumas, Purwokerto and surroundings, consist of the regencies (regentschap) of Banjoemas, Poerwokerto, Tjilatjap and Bandjarnegara	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Kedoe	Indonesian: Kedu	Kedoe Residency		n/a	Magelang and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Magelang, Wonosobo, Temanggoeng, Poerworedjo and Keboemen; and with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Magelang	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Semarang	Indonesian: Semarang	Semarang Residency		n/a	The Semarang metropolitan area (Indonesian: Kedungsepur), consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Semarang, Kendal, Demak and Grobogan; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Semarang and Salatiga	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Djepara-Rembang	Indonesian: Jepara-Rembang	Djepara-Rembang Residency		n/a	Jepara, Rembang and surroundings, consisting of regencies (regentschap) of Pati, Djepara, Rembang, Blora and Koedoes	none

East Java

Under control of Governorate of East Java (Gouvernement Oost-Java):

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km^2)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Madioen	Indonesian: Madiun	Madioen Residency		n/a	Madiun and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Madioen, Magetan, Ngawi, Ponorogo and Patjitan; and with the municipality (stadsgemeente) of Madioen	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Bodjonegoro	Indonesian: Bojonegoro	Bodjonegoro Residency		n/a	Bojonegoro and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bodjonegoro, Toeban and Lamongan	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Kediri	Indonesian: Kediri	Kediri Residency		n/a	Kediri and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Kediri, Ngandjoek, Blitar and Toeloengagoeng; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Kediri and Blitar	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Soerabaja	Indonesian: Surabaya	Soerabaja Residency		n/a	The Surabaya metropolitan area, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Soerabaja, Sidoardjo, Modjokerto and Djombang; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Soerabaja and Modjokerto	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Malang	Indonesian: Malang	Malang Residency		n/a	Malang, Probolinggo and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Malang, Pasoeroean, Probolinggo and Loemadjang; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Malang, Pasoeroean and Probolinggo	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Besoeki	Indonesian: Besuki	Besoeki Residency		n/a	Banyuwangi and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bondowoso, Panaroekan, Djember and Banjoewangi	none
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Madoera	Indonesian: Madura	Madoera Residency		n/a	Madura, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bangkalan, Pamekasan and Soemenep	none

Borneo

In 1938 both of these Residencies were again united in a Governorate of Borneo (Gouvernement van Borneo) with its capital at Banjarmasin.

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km^2)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Westerafdeeling van Borneo	Indonesian: Kalimantan Barat	Western Afdeelings of Borneo Residency		n/a	West Kalimantan, consisting of the Afdeelingen of Singkawang, Pontianak, Ketapang and Sintang	Sambas Sultanate, Pontianak Sultanate, Lordship of Koeboe, Lordship of Landak, Lordship of Mampawa, Lordship of Matan, Lordship of Sanggau, Lordship of Sekadau, Lordship of Selimbau, Lordship of Simpang, Lordship of Sintang, Lordship of Soekadana and Lordship of Tajan
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Zuider en Oosterafdeeling van Borneo	Indonesian: Kalimantan Selatan dan Timur	Southern and Eastern Afdeelings of Borneo Residency		n/a	Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan, consisting of the afdeelingen of Koeala Kapoeas, Bandjermasin, Hoeloe Soengei, Samarinda and Boeloengan en Berau; with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Bandjermasin	Principality of Kota Waringin, Principality of Pasir, Koetei Sultanate, Boeloengan Sultanate, Sambalioeng Sultanate, Goenoeng Taboer Sultanate

The Great East

The governorate of the Great East (Dutch: 'Gouvernement Groote Oost') was created in 1938. It comprised the islands to the east of Borneo and Java, including the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, Maluku and Western New Guinea.

Lesser Sunda Islands

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km^2)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Bali en Lombok	Indonesian: Bali dan Lombok	Bali and Lombok Residency		n/a	Bali and Lombok, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Singaradja, Zuid Bali and Lombok	Kloengkoeng Kingdom with primacy over several small states in Bali and Lombok
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Timor en Onderhoorigheden	Indonesian: Timor	Timor and Dependencies Residency		n/a	West Nusa Tenggara East of Lombok and East Nusa Tenggara, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Soembawa, Soemba, Flores and Timor en eilanden	Soembawa Sultanate, Bima Sultanate and several small states

Sulawesi

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km^2)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Celebes en Onderhoorigheden	Indonesian: Sulawesi	Celebes and Dependencies Residency		n/a	South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi, consisting of the afdeelingen of Soenggoeminasa, Bonthain, Makassar, Bone, Parepare, Mandar, and Loewoe, Boetoeng en Laiwoei and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Makassar	Gowa Sultanate, Boetoeng Sultanate Lordship of Banggai, Lordship of Bone, Lordship of Loewoe, Lordship of Sidenreng, Lordship of Soppeng, Lordship of Wadjo, Lordship of Moena and other smaller states
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Manado	Indonesian: Manado	Manado Residency		n/a	Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi, consisting of the afdeelingen of Poso, Donggala, Gorontalo, Manado and Sangihe en Talaud eiland with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Manado	none

Maluku and Western New Guinea

In 1922 with the dissolution of Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Ternate to Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Amboina, Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Amboina was renamed to Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Molukken. In 1935 the Dutch; Flemish: Residentie was renamed to Governorate of the Moluccas Dutch; Flemish: Gouvernement Molukken until the creation of Dutch; Flemish: Gouvernement Groote Oost in 1938, in which Dutch; Flemish: Gouvernement Molukken became Dutch; Flemish: residentie again.

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km^2)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Department
Dutch; Flemish: Afdeeling Ternate	Indonesian: Ternate	Ternate Afdeeling		n/a	North Maluku	Ternate Sultanate, Tidore Sultanate and Batjan Sultanate
Dutch; Flemish: Afdeeling Amboina	Indonesian: Ambon	Amboina Afdeeling	(with Tual)	n/a	Maluku	at least a small state, State of Amahusu
Dutch; Flemish: Afdeeling Toeal	Indonesian: Tual	Afdeeling of Tual		n/a	Southeast Maluku	none
Dutch; Flemish: Afdeeling Nieuw-Guinea	(Dutch) New Guinea	New Guinea Afdeeling	(with South New-Guinea)	n/a	West Papua and Papua	none
Dutch; Flemish: Afdeeling Zuid Nieuw-Guinea	(Dutch) Southern New Guinea	South New Guinea Afdeeling		n/a	Southern part of West Papua and Papua	State of Kaimana

Malay Peninsula

Malacca

The governorate of Malacca (Gouvernement Malacca) was a part of the Dutch East Indies (1818-1825), before finally handing it to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland based on Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824.

Vorstenlanden

Vorstenlanden were four native states on the island of Java in the Netherlands Indies that were nominally self-governing under suzerainty of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Their political autonomy was however severely constrained by treaties and settlements. Two of them were the Governorate of Djokjakarta and the Governorate of Soerakarta, which controlled the Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Djokjakarta and the Dutch; Flemish: Residenties of Soerakarta and Klaten respectively.

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km^2)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Djokjakarta	Indonesian: Yogyakarta	Djokjakarta Residency		n/a	Yogyakarta, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Adikarto, Pakoealaman, Koelon-Progo, Jogjakarta, Bantoel and Goenoeng-Kidul	Jogjakarta Sultanate and Duchy of Pakoe Alaman
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Soerakarta	Indonesian: Surakarta	Soerakarta Residency	(with Klaten)	n/a	Surakarta, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Sragen, Soerakarta, Kota Mangkoenagaran and Wonogiri	Soerakarta Sunanate and Duchy of Mangkoe Negaran
Dutch; Flemish: Residentie Klaten	Indonesian: Klaten	Klaten Residency		n/a		Soerakarta Sunanate

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chapter 4: The Netherlands Indies, 1800-1942 | Digital Atlas of Indonesian History - by Robert Cribb . 2012-01-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120119042918/http://www.indonesianhistory.info/pages/chapter-4.html . 19 January 2012 . dmy-all ., sourced from from the earlier volume
2. Book: Cribb . R. B. . Historical atlas of Indonesia . 2000 . University of Hawai'i Press . Honolulu . 0-8248-2111-4 . 128.