Author. Born Eduard Douwes Dekker ("Multatuli" is Latin for "I have suffered much"), at the age of 18 he left Holland for Indonesia (the former Nederlands Indië). While working in the district of Lebak he reported to his superiors and later to the Governor-General that the natives were driven. Instead of improving the situation, he was transferred by his superiors. After resignation he returned to the Netherlands and wrote the book "Max Havelaar" (1860) in which he described his experiences. Although the book was appreciated by many he did not get the support he had hoped for. That support took place in the 20th century, long after his death. He died in Nieder-Ingelheim and was the first Dutchman cremated (in Gotha in Germany). Originally his second wife Mimi (Maria Frederika Cornelia Hamminck Schepel) kept his ashes in her house. After the death of Mimi his ashes as well as hers were placed in the Multatuli Museum in the Library of the University of Amsterdam. On March 6, 1948 a monument in the urnfield at the crematory Velsen in Driehuis in the Netherlands was unveiled. At the same time the ashes of both of them were removed to canisters (metal urns) and placed at the foot of the monument. Starting 1967 a shadow of doubt about the presence of the ashes grew, the monument was opened on May 23, 1990. The ashes were there but the metal urns were found in a very bad shape. They were renewed and replaced on May 31, 1990. The original urns and the old metal urns are now in the Multatuli Museum, Korsjespoortsteeg 20 HS, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Author. Born Eduard Douwes Dekker ("Multatuli" is Latin for "I have suffered much"), at the age of 18 he left Holland for Indonesia (the former Nederlands Indië). While working in the district of Lebak he reported to his superiors and later to the Governor-General that the natives were driven. Instead of improving the situation, he was transferred by his superiors. After resignation he returned to the Netherlands and wrote the book "Max Havelaar" (1860) in which he described his experiences. Although the book was appreciated by many he did not get the support he had hoped for. That support took place in the 20th century, long after his death. He died in Nieder-Ingelheim and was the first Dutchman cremated (in Gotha in Germany). Originally his second wife Mimi (Maria Frederika Cornelia Hamminck Schepel) kept his ashes in her house. After the death of Mimi his ashes as well as hers were placed in the Multatuli Museum in the Library of the University of Amsterdam. On March 6, 1948 a monument in the urnfield at the crematory Velsen in Driehuis in the Netherlands was unveiled. At the same time the ashes of both of them were removed to canisters (metal urns) and placed at the foot of the monument. Starting 1967 a shadow of doubt about the presence of the ashes grew, the monument was opened on May 23, 1990. The ashes were there but the metal urns were found in a very bad shape. They were renewed and replaced on May 31, 1990. The original urns and the old metal urns are now in the Multatuli Museum, Korsjespoortsteeg 20 HS, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Bio by: Pim de Bie
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