The First Indonesian to Become a Member of Parliament in the Netherlands

The first Indonesian to become a member of the Dutch parliament (Tweede Kamer) was Roestam Effendi. In addition to being known as a freedom fighter, he was also a literary figure.

Quoted from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology website and the book A Short History “Petite Histoire” of Indonesia by Rosihan Anwar, Roestam Effendi was born on 13 May 1903 in Padang, West Sumatra.

Roestam Effendi was a graduate of the Raja School (Kweekschool) in Bukittinggi. He then continued his studies at the Hogere Kweekschool voor Inlandse Onderwijzers (HKS) ‘Higher Teacher Training School for Native Teachers’ in Bandung.

In 1926, he left Indonesia for the Netherlands to continue his education. While in the Netherlands, Roestam Effendi successfully obtained his hoofdakte. He also joined the Communistische Partij Nederland, the Communist Party of the Netherlands.

After graduating from HKS Bandung, before departing for the Netherlands, Roestam Effendi served for some time as headmaster at Adabiah School in Padang. Previously, he had been appointed by the Department of V. O & E as acting head at HIS Siak, Sri Indrapura. However, because he despised the Dutch government, he rejected the appointment.

He then founded a private school named Adabiah. As headmaster of this private school, Roestam felt he had the freedom to achieve more than his colleagues working for the Dutch government. Therefore, besides being free to write, he also ventured into journalism and politics.

His activism in politics shifted Roestam’s focus. He was no longer satisfied with struggling only through literature. In 1926, he went to the Netherlands and joined the Communist Party of the Netherlands.

“I left the field of Indonesian literature because I wanted to fight for national independence directly and actively in the political arena,” he stated.

Due to this determination, Roestam Effendi became the first Indonesian son to be elected as a member of the Dutch parliament (Tweede Kamer), representing the Communist Party of the Netherlands.

Roestam later returned to Indonesia. He continued his struggle after his country gained independence. He passed away in Jakarta on 24 May 1979.