The Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) was originally colonized by the Portuguese in the early 16th century. However, by the late 18th century the Dutch had gained control of the territory.
In 1795, the Dutch East Indies Company was dissolved and the Dutch government took direct control of the colony. In 1824, the Dutch government proclaimed the Dutch East Indies a colony of the Netherlands.
The Dutch continued to rule Indonesia until World War II, when Japan occupied the country. …