Administrative divisions of the Dutch East Indies

The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. 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: 'regentschappen'), and residencies under governorates were divided into departments (Dutch: 'Afdeelingen') and then further into regentschappen.^[1]

The following list is the divisions of the Dutch East Indies in 1942, prior to the Japanese occupation in World War 2.

Governorate of Sumatra[]

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency	Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Residentie Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden	Aceh	Atjeh and Dependencies Residency	1,003,062	55392.23	Aceh, comprising regencies ('afdeeling') of Aceh Besar, North Aceh, East Aceh and West Aceh.
Residentie Tapanoeli	Tapanuli	Tapanoeli Residency	1,042,583	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
Residentie Oostkust van Sumatra	Sumatra Timur		1,693,200	94583.25	eastern part of North Sumatra and northern part of Riau, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Langkat, Deli en Serdang, Asahan, Simaloengoen en Karolanden and Bengkalis; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Medan, Bindjai, Tebing Tinggi, Tandjoengbalai and Pematangsiantar	Langkat Sultanate, Deli Sultanate, Serdang Sultanate, Asahan Sultanate, , Siak Sultanate and
Residentie Sumatra's Westkust	Sumatra Barat		1,910,298	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
Residentie Riouw en Onderhoorigheden	Riau		298,225	31668.44	southern part of Riau and Riau Islands, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Indragiri and Tandjoengpinang
Residentie Djambi	Jambi	Djambi Residency	245,272	44923.76	Jambi, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Djambi	none
Residentie Benkoelen	Bengkulu		323,123	26249.39	Bengkulu, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Benkoelen	none
Residentie Palembang	Palembang		1,098,725	86355.65	South Sumatra, consist of the divisions (afdeeling) of Palembang Bovenlanden, Palembang Benedenlanden and Ogan en Komering-oeloe; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Palembang	none
Residentie Bangka en Onderhoorigheden	Bangka		278,792	16774.70	Bangka and Belitung Islands, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Bangka and Billiton	none
Residentie Lampongsche Districten	Lampung		361,563	28783.74	Lampung, consisting of the divisions (afdeeling) of Teloekbetoeng	none

Java[]

Java comprised three provinces,^{[citation needed]} West, Middle and East Java, the boundaries of which were similar to the island's pre-2000 boundaries.^{[citation needed]}

West Java[]

Under control of governorate of West-Java

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency	Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Residentie Bantam	Banten	Bantam Residency	1,028,628	n/a	Banten consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Serang, Lebak and Pandeglang	none
Residentie Batavia	Betawi		2,637,035	n/a	Jakarta and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Batavia, Meester-Cornelis and Krawang; with municipality (stadsgemeente) of Batavia	none
Residentie Buitenzorg	Bogor	Buitenzorg Residency	2,212,997	n/a	Bogor and surroundings, consist of the regencies (regentschap) of Buitenzorg, Soekaboemi and Tjiandjoer; with municipality (stadsgemeente) of Buitenzorg and Soekaboemi	none
Residentie Preanger-Regentschappen	Priangan	Preanger Regencies Residency	3,448,796	n/a	Bandung and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bandoeng, Soemedang, Tasikmalaja, Tjiamis and Garoet; with municipality (stadsgemeente) of Bandoeng	none
Residentie Cheribon	Cirebon		2,069,690	n/a	Cirebon and surroundings, consisting of regencies (regentschap) of Cheribon, Koeningan, Indramajoe and Madjalengka; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Cheribon	none

Central Java[]

Under control of governorate of Central Java:

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency	Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Residentie Pekalongan	Pekalongan		2,640,124	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
Residentie Banjoemas	Banyumas		2,474,447	n/a	Banyumas, Purwokerto and surroundings, consist of the regencies (regentschap) of Banjoemas, Poerwokerto, Tjilatjap and Bandjarnegara	none
Residentie Kedoe	Kedu		2,129,894	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
Residentie Semarang	Semarang	Semarang Residency	2,020,684	n/a	Semarang and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Semarang, Kendal, Demak and Grobogan; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Semarang and Salatiga	none
Residentie Djepara-Rembang	Jepara-Rembang		1,876,480	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:

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency	Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Residentie Madioen	Madiun		1,909,801	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
Residentie Bodjonegoro	Bojonegoro		1,986,129align=right\|n/a	Bojonegoro and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bodjonegoro, Toeban and Lamongan	none
Residentie Kediri	Kediri		2,469,955	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
Residentie Soerabaja	Surabaya		1,902,953	n/a	Surabaya and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Soerabaja, Sidoardjo, Modjokerto and Djombang; and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Soerabaja and Modjokerto	none
Residentie Malang	Malang		2,741,105	n/a	Malang, Probolinggo and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Malang, Pasoeroean, Probolinggo and Loemadjang; with municipality (stadsgemeente) of Malang, Pasoeroean and Probolinggo	none
Residentie Besoeki	Besuki		2,083,309	n/a	Banyuwangi and surroundings, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Bondowoso, Panaroekan, Djember and Banjoewangi	none
Residentie Madoera	Madura		1,962,462	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 with its capital at Banjarmasin.

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency	Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Residentie Westerafdeeling van Borneo	Kalimantan Barat		802,447	n/a	West Kalimantan, consisting of the Afdeelingen of Singkawang, Pontianak, Ketapang and Sintang	Sambas Sultanate, Pontianak Sultanate, , , , , , , , , , and
Residentie Zuider en Oosterafdeeling van Borneo	Kalimantan Selatan dan Timur		1,366,214	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, , Koetei Sultanate, Boeloengan Sultanate, ,

The Great East[]

The governorate of the Great East (Dutch: '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 (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency	Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Residentie Bali en Lombok	Bali dan Lombok		1,802,683	n/a	Bali and Lombok, consisting of the afdeelinen) of Singaradja, Zuid Bali and Lombok	with primacy over several small states in Bali and Lombok
Residentie Timor en Onderhoorigheden	Timor	Timor and Dependencies Residency	1,657,376	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	, Bima Sultanate and several small states

Sulawesi[]

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency	Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Residentie Celebes en Onderhoorigheden	Sulawesi		3,093,251	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 , , , , , , and other smaller states
Residentie Manado	Manado		1,138,665	n/a	Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi, consisting of the afdeelingen of Poso, Donggala, Gorontalo, Manado and with the municipalities (stadsgemeente) of Manado	none

Maluku and Western New Guinea[]

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

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Department	Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Afdeeling Ternate	Ternate		560,013	n/a	North Maluku	Ternate Sultanate, Tidore Sultanate and Batjan Sultanate
Afdeeling Amboina	Ambon		560,013 (with Tual)	n/a	Maluku	at least a small state,
Afdeeling Toeal	Tual	Afdeeling of Tual	0	n/a	Southeast Maluku	none
Afdeeling Nieuw-Guinea	(Dutch) New Guinea		333,387(with South New-Guinea)	n/a	West Papua and Papua	none
Afdeeling Zuid Nieuw-Guinea	(Dutch) Southern New Guinea		0	n/a	Southern part of West Papua and Papua

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 Residentie Djokjakarta and the Residenties of Soerakarta and Klaten respectively.

Name			Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Dutch name	Local name	Residency	Population (1930)	Area (km²)	Modern area	Princely state(s)
Residentie Djokjakarta	Yogyakarta		1,559,027	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
Residentie Soerakarta	Surakarta		2,564,848 (with Klaten)	n/a	Surakarta, consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Sragen, Soerakarta, Kota Mangkoenagaran and Wonogiri	Soerakarta Sunanate and Duchy of Mangkoe Negaran
Residentie Klaten	Klaten		0	n/a	consisting of the regencies (regentschap) of Klaten and Bojolali	Soerakarta Sunanate

References[]

^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), sourced from Cribb, R. B (2010), Digital atlas of indonesian history, Nias, ISBN 978-87-91114-66-3 from the earlier volume Cribb, R. B; Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (2000), Historical atlas of Indonesia, Curzon ; Singapore : New Asian Library, ISBN 978-0-7007-0985-4

[1] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), sourced from Cribb, R. B (2010), Digital atlas of indonesian history, Nias, ISBN 978-87-91114-66-3 from the earlier volume Cribb, R. B; Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (2000), Historical atlas of Indonesia, Curzon ; Singapore : New Asian Library, ISBN 978-0-7007-0985-4

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