Hi Steemians, This is one of the historical evidence of the Acehnese kingdom in the past, with this historical and cultural story, hopefully the friends can perceive events that have occurred in the past and become historical evidence of Aceh.

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Aceh's history and culture are widely written by western orientalists. It is said that Aceh's complete historical and cultural documents are not owned by Aceh, but are in the Netherlands within the Atjeh Institute.

Atjeh Institute was built on July 31, 1914 on the initiative of Prof. Dr. Cristian Snouck Hurgronje, which was then established by a decree of KB number 61 by the Dutch colonial government.

The writings of Aceh written by the eastern experts from both the Dutch and the western writers who had made the research in Aceh were all collected in the Atjeh Institute.

Prof. Dr. Aboe Bakar Atjeh in his paper on "The Face of Aceh In The Historical Trajectory" presented at the second cultural seminar of Cultural Week of Aceh (PKA) in 1972, mentions the arrangement of Atjeh Institute's then-chairman, Prof. Dr. Cristian Snouck Hurgronje. Secretary Dr C Janssen and Prof. J. Van Werde C J Haselman as Treasurer.

For the interests of the Dutch colonial government at that time in an effort to conquer Aceh, the various customs and culture and characteristics of the Acehnese people were examined in Atjeh institute. Then recorded in Dutch. The most comprehensive books on the history and culture of Aceh which are preserved until now.

The seriousness of the Dutch colonial government in exploring and researching the characteristics and culture of Aceh, reflected in the establishment of Atjeh Institute. In fact, Snouck was sent to Mecca to explore Islam in order to more easily integrate with the people of Aceh in conducting his research.

At that time the Acehnese accepted it and placed it on a par with the ulama. As history records, where Snouck is often a preacher in the mosques where he conducts research. So Snouck was called by the Acehnese at that time with the title of "Teungku Puteh" which was translated as a cleric from the west. Though he is actually not a Muslim, but people who have a lot of knowledge about the religion of Islam.

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The fruit of the mock investigation of the Snouck Islam, the cultural book of Aceh was born. He conducted direct research into Aceh after previously collecting data from the care of Aceh and China who had stopped in Aceh, both Hinduism and after the arrival of Islam. Like Dr. G A J Hazuee, and J Kreemer.

All of their research costs are borne by Atjeh Institute. From their research, there were also books about the culture and history of Aceh's golden age, the book "Atjeh" written by Kreemer and the book "Encyopedie Van Ned Indie".

The book "Atjeh" written by Kreemer is the widest extent of the identity and culture of the people of Aceh. It was in his interest to write the book more dominated his sense of responsibility as a historian than the political interests of the Dutch colonial government at that time.

While from among journalists, appears H C Zentgraaf, editor of the head of Java Bode newspaper. Former Dutch soldier who had participated in the Aceh war, after retiring from the military and working as a war reporter. He wrote about the brutality of Dutch-built Moersose soldiers in the fight against the people of Aceh.

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The summary of his experience is then collected in the book "Atjeh". Zentgraaf explicitly wrote about the characteristics, strengths and resilience of the people of Aceh in the face of the Dutch attack. Zentgraaf did not hesitate to denounce its own (Dutch-red) people who were too arrogant.

The book Zentgraaf was boldly published during the Dutch colonial rule is still dominating the archipelago, many critics considered the book is a gondam that hit the Dutch government at that time.

At that time there were also other writers who wrote about Aceh, among them, Van Veer, Van Graaff, van Den Plass, Van Den Nomensen, all from the Netherlands. Then Prof. Dr. Griff from England, Marcopolo from Spain, and Prof. Dr. Wit Shing from China.

About the documentation of culture, the people of Java are more fortunate, on the initiative of the late Prof. Dr. DA Husein Djajninggrat successfully lobbied the Dutch colonial government to build Java Institute in Yogyakarta with Museum Sono Budoyo and Jowo magazine. Until now still well maintained.

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Likewise in Surakarta, although not so complete, still has a cultural center that reflects the characteristics of the region. The cultural center known as Radio Putoko is located in the practice site and cultural manifestation called Taman Sriwidari.

But Aceh, because of its uniqueness and by the Dutch Atjeh Institute not built in Aceh, but in the Netherlands. Because the Netherlands considered the importance of documentation about Aceh rather than other areas in the archipelago that successfully conquered.

Diplomacy 1602

Dutch interest in Aceh has begun since the Aceh diplomat Abdul Hamid visited the Netherlands, who is said to be the first diplomat from Asia to establish a relationship with the Dutch Empire at that time.

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Abdul Hamid was sent by Sultan Alauddin Al Mukamil to the land of the windmills. The group of Acehnese ambassadors arrived in August 1602, but on August 9 Abdul Hamid died in the land of Europe and was buried at St Pieter's church in Middelburg, Zeeland.

According to Prof. Osman Raliby in a paper on Aceh, the Acehnese world is rapidly changing due to the influence of Islam. This was further coupled with the contact of Aceh with international traders who sought spices to Aceh since the 14th century.

However, since August 18, 1511, the Portuguese occupying Malacca posed a threat to the spice trade in Aceh. The Acehnese king who has made trade contacts with Islamic empires in India, Persia, Egypt, Turkey, and Bandar-bandar trading in the Red Sea, are aware of this. But still maintaining the relationship with the Portuguese.

Competition then made the relationship ungovernable, as the Portuguese aspired to monopolize the spice trade in the Malacca Strait. Therefore also the Portuguese tried to stop all the spice transport from the port of Aceh.

In fact, in 1520 the Admiral and the Portuguese Young King in Goa, Dirgo Lopez De Sequeira threatened with a tantrum that they would attack ships making trade contacts with Aceh. Aceh and the Portuguese became enemy in Malacca Strait.

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Nine years later (1529) the Portuguese wanted to seize the port of Pidie and Pase which became the trading hub of spices. But the Portuguese effort failed. The king of Aceh managed to drive the Portuguese back to Malacca. In December 1529, Acehnese ships appeared in front of Canannore on the west coast of India, assisting the King Kalicut fleet fighting the Portuguese navy in Goa.

Furthermore, according to Prof. Dr. H Aboebakar Atjeh, in 1599-when Aceh was led by Sultan Alauddin Riayatsyah known as Sayid Al Mukammal (1588-1604) - the Dutch came to Aceh to pioneer the spice trade.

The first Dutchman to come to Aceh was the two brothers Cornelis de Houtman and Frederik de Houtman. Both were sent by Zeewsche reeder Balthazar de Moecheron, The Netherlands. Both come with two large ships and anchored in the Port of Kingdom of Aceh.

Recognizing the Dutch trade mission to Aceh, the Portuguese who had first occupied Malacca incited the Kingdom of Aceh not to accept the Dutch trade mission. Because the Portuguese still want to monopolize the trade of spices. Especially when the Portuguese hostile to the Dutch.

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The king of Aceh was affected, the two Dutch trade envoys, Frederick de Houtman and Cornelis de Houtman were arrested. Because of the failed economic negotiations, Cornelis was then killed. While Frederick was arrested and taken prisoner. Both Dutch ships sailed back to Middelburg, the Netherlands.

J Kreemer, a Dutch writer in the book "Atjeh" explains, in November 1600 Paul van Caerden, a friend of Pieter Both's order with the two ships from the Brabantsche Compagnie to pioneer trade relations with Aceh.

Paul van Caerden succeeded in making a trade agreement with Aceh, but because at that time Aceh was still incited by the Portuguese not to cooperate with the Dutch. Spice loads were unloaded from Dutch ships, they returned to the Netherlands with no results.

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It was then that Federick de Houtman escaped from the Acehnese prisoners and boarded the Van Caerden ship to escape. But he then discouraged and returned to surrender to the Sultan of Aceh. The story of the event is summarized in De Europeers in den Maleishen Archipel, and Het handelsverdrag van V Caerden, in J.E Heeres: Corpus Diplomaticum. A note about Dutch trade diplomacy to Malacca.

Even so, the Dutch continue to strive to trade the spices to Aceh. The Portuguese in the Malacca Straits in the trade wanted the Dutch captured. Because merchant traders from the Netherlands continue to come to the Kingdom of Aceh to make trade contacts between the Portuguese and Portuguese trade relationships are broken.
Trade relations

The trade relations of the Kingdom of Aceh with the Kingdom of the Netherlands was officially established in 1601. At that time the Dutch King Print Maurist, through his envoy to Aceh who re-established trade affairs, sent a letter and gifts from the Kingdom of the Kingdom to the King of Aceh.

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Dutch merchants carrying letters and gifts came from the trade missions of Gerard le Roy and Laurens Bicker with several ships from the Zeeuw airline which is an eskader from Middelburg.

The King of the Netherlands's envoy was well received by the King of Aceh. They were given permission to establish a trading company to buy spices in Aceh. While Frederick de Houtman and his friends who were detained by the Sultan of Aceh were freed.

When the ship Zeeuw departed from Aceh bringing spices to the Netherlands, the Sultan of Aceh sent his envoy to the Netherlands by boarding the ship to strengthen the friendly agreement between Aceh and the Netherlands. Utrusan Aceh sent by Sultan Alauddin Riayatsyah al Mukamil is, Abdul Hamid, ambassador of the Kingdom of Aceh, Laksamana Sri Muhammad, Mir Hasan, and an Acehnese nobleman, and translator Leonard Werner.

The group arrived in the Netherlands in August 1602. Their arrival was greatly welcomed. On August 9, Aceh's ambassador, Abdul Hamid, died there and was buried at St Pieter's church in Middelburg, Zeeland. The history of the meeting of the ambassador of Aceh with the King of the Netherlands, Print Maurist was later written by Dr J J F Wap in the book "Het gezantschap van den sultan van Achin (1602) a Print Maurits van Nassau en de Oud-Nederlandsche Republiek," 1862.

So friends Steemians, it is a story of history and culture in the former kingdom of Aceh, if you want to know the history of Aceh more deeply, the friends can browse books by the past, maybe the book is in your country, and hopefully with the story above can be taken wisdom.

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