Coming Soon!
My new book, scheduled for release this year, is the sequel to The Indo Under the Maple Tree.
The Indo is a work of literary fiction inspired by true events. It is narrated by the fictional character David Jan Willem de Klerk, an Indo-Canadian and the son of Indo immigrants. Years later, David returns to his birthplace, Canada, and visits the Netherlands again. Along the way, he realizes that the Tempo Doeloe generation (Indos born in the early 1900s through 1910s in the Dutch East Indies) is quietly fading. Elders pass on, and many in subsequent generations marry outside the Indo community. Over time, some Indos drift toward either a Dutch or Indonesian identity, gradually discarding their Indo (Brown Dutchie) heritage.
The story reflects David’s memories of the Tempo Doeloe generation, capturing the stories that give him a deeper understanding of the present. What his parents’ generation once dismissed as “Why bother with the motherland?” — shaped by the trauma of the Bersiap and subsequent expulsion — becomes David’s calling. It leads him to Indonesia, where long-buried family truths reshape his understanding of his existence.
Generations shift. History moves forward. But one truth remains unshaken:
Hij is en hij blijft een Indo.
He is The Indo.
The Indo is a book about our people — for our people and for everyone — because it is a human story. It shines a light on an underrepresented and often overlooked ethnic group long caught between dominant Dutch (Netherlands) and Indonesian narratives. Too often oversimplified as “mixed,” a label that contributes to the erasure of the Indo identity and ignores the ethnic group's rich, authentic culture. As a result, they continue to be overlooked in English-language literature.
Release Notification
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Subject line: The Indo
literary works
Authentically and Unapologetically Indo. Life Lessons from the Indo People Inspiring Short Stories & Essays on Culture, History, and Heart.
Celebrate Indo heritage through essays and short stories that capture the humor, warmth, and wisdom of the Indo (Dutch-Eurasian) people, with roots in the former Dutch East Indies—often overlooked in the English-speaking world. Told with honesty, pride, and joy, these pieces explore identity, culture, and the everyday beauty of life as the child of Indo immigrants.
This collection highlights unique Indo nuances, such as the adoooeeeees, kasssssiaaaans, and botol cebok, which define the authenticity of the Indo people and reflect their distinctive spirit.
Work of Literary Fiction Inspired by True Events
An Indo – Canadian Immigrant Story
The Indo Under the Maple Tree is a poignant literary fiction narrated by David, a fictional character whose life reflects the experience of an Indo (Indische Nederlander) immigrant family. Set in Canada during the 1970s–90s, David’s story is shaped by the intergenerational trauma inherited from his parents, who survived the horrors of World War II, the Bersiap Period, and displacement from the former Dutch East Indies.
In the multicultural landscape of Canada, David embraces his Indo heritage with pride, celebrating traditions like Pasar Malams, Sinterklaas, and backyard satay, while navigating the complexities of life in a new land. His visits to the Netherlands deepen his connection to his roots, unveiling both the pride and struggles of his family’s history.
A rare English-language exploration of the Indo immigrant experience, The Indo Under the Maple Tree is a heartfelt tale of cultural preservation, intergenerational healing, and the enduring power of culture.