View source for Algemeen Handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië

{{short description|Dutch-language newspaper}}
{{About|a newspaper from Semarang, Dutch East Indies|the liberal newspaper from Amsterdam|Algemeen Handelsblad}}
[[File:Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië April 16, 1924.jpg|thumb|Front page of Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië, April 16, 1924]]
'''Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië''' ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]: General trade newspaper for the Dutch East Indies) was a [[Dutch language]] newspaper, published from 1924 to 1942 in [[Semarang]], [[Dutch East Indies]].
==History==
===1924-1926: Founding under Hoogenstraaten ===
The ''Algemeen handelsblad'' was established in [[Semarang]] in 1924 as a competitor to [[De Locomotief]], one of the most successful Dutch language newspapers in the Indies.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wormser |first1=Carel Willem |title=Journalistiek op Java |date=1943 |publisher=W. van Hoeve |page=33}}</ref> It was printed in the presses of ''N.V. Drukkerij Benjamins'' and already promised to offer full wire service<ref>{{cite news |title=Een nieuw dagblad te Semarang |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:002118061:mpeg21:a00017 |work=Sumatra-bode |date=March 12, 1924 |language=nl}}</ref>—the mark of a well-funded newspaper.
The first editor of the paper was L.M.C. Hoogenstraaten. In preparing to launch the paper he announced that it would not have any particular political position but that it would be supportive of development of the "land and people".<ref>{{cite news |title=Het Algemeen Handelsblad |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:000548013:mpeg21:a00008 |work=De nieuwe vorstenlanden |date=April 14, 1924 |language=nl}}</ref>
In June 1926 the paper announced on its front page that Hoogenstraaten was no longer associated with them.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bericht |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:000435036:mpeg21:a00001 |work=Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië |date=June 14, 1926 |language=nl}}</ref> According to a wire sent out by [[ANETA]], he had been fired due to a difference of opinion with the management.<ref>{{cite news |title=Journalistiek. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011036440:mpeg21:a0003 |work=Bataviaasch nieuwsblad |date=14 June 1926}}</ref>
===1926-1929: Challenging authority under Jansen ===
In June 1926, the paper announced that [[Evert Jansen (journalist)|Evert Jansen]], who signed his name E. Jansen, would take over editorial duties. He had until recently been a correspondent working for the [[Soerabaijasch Handelsblad]] in [[Yogyakarta]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Journalistiek |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:000435047:mpeg21:a00007 |work=Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië |date=June 28, 1926 |language=nl}}</ref> But he had worked in various newspapers in the Indies since 1915, including major papers like [[De Locomotief]] and [[Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad]].<ref name="SH Jubelium">{{cite news |title=Journalistiek jubileum E. Jansen een kwarteeuw in het vak |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011122168:mpeg21:a0135 |work=Soerabaijasch handelsblad |date=30 September 1940}}</ref> This appointment was made more permanent and full-time in January of the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bericht |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:000439002:mpeg21:a00007 |work=Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië |date=January 4, 1927 |language=nl}}</ref>
Jansen must have been a member of the mixed-race [[Indo people|Indo]] community because he became involved in the [[Indo Europeesch Verbond]] organization and was appointed to their board.<ref>{{cite news |title=VERGADERING I.E.V. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB23:001717121:mpeg21:a00171 |work=De Locomotief |date=December 17, 1928 |language=nl}}</ref> In early 1929, when the previous representative died, he stepped forward as the organization's new representative on the [[Semarang]] city council.<ref>{{cite news |title=De gemeenteraad |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB23:001718137:mpeg21:a00128 |work=De Locomotief |date=February 26, 1929 |language=nl}}</ref> However, since he left Semarang before the end of the year, he himself would be replaced in that position before long.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gemeenteraadsverkiezing |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:000436092:mpeg21:a00018 |work=Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië |date=December 17, 1929 |language=nl}}</ref>
In July 1929, he was charged with a [[Persdelict]] (press offense)--he was held responsible, as editor, for printing an article that insulted the good name of Mr. Minderman, the fired head of a local school, who was accused of forgery and misappropriation of school funds.<ref name="Persdelict 1929">{{cite news |title=Een persdelict |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:000441052:mpeg21:a00025 |work=Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië |date=July 2, 1929 |language=nl}}</ref> He was found guilty and given a punishment of 150 guilders or 14 days imprisonment.<ref>{{cite news |title=Korte Berichten. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011072363:mpeg21:a0029 |work=Bataviaasch nieuwsblad |date=5 July 1929}}</ref>
In late 1929 Jansen stepped down as editor of the Handelsblad and left Semarang to become editor of at least two Dutch-language newspapers in [[East Java]], ''De Malanger'' in [[Malang]]<ref>{{cite news |title=BINNENLAND. Journalistiek. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010279092:mpeg21:a0037 |work=De Indische courant |date=8 October 1929}}</ref> and [[De Indische Courant]] in [[Surabaya]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Journalistiek |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:000436043:mpeg21:a00013 |work=Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië |date=October 21, 1929 |language=nl}}</ref>
===1930-1937: Financial problems under Leertouwer ===
W. Leertouwer, who had until recently been editor of the magazine ''Sumatra'' in [[Medan, Indonesia|Medan]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Journalistiek |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB23:001715031:mpeg21:a00125 |work=De Locomotief |date=May 14, 1929 |language=nl}}</ref> and ''De Malanger'' in Malang,<ref>{{cite news |title=Pers-mutaties |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011108732:mpeg21:a0220 |work=Soerabaijasch handelsblad |date=January 3, 1930}}</ref> took over Jansen's duties in the summer of 1930.<ref>{{cite news |title=Journalistiek |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010279538:mpeg21:a0065 |work=De Indische courant |date=August 16, 1930}}</ref> It was a difficult time to work at the newspaper, as it was hit very hard by the start of the [[Great Depression]], which caused deep financial problems for the company that owned the paper, ''N.V. Benjamins''.<ref name="1933 crash">{{cite news |title=L. Goldsmann |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:000445114:mpeg21:a00024 |work=Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië |date=October 28, 1933 |language=nl}}</ref>
During the 1930s the paper's license to publish was temporarily suspended, along with a number of other Dutch-language papers, over coverage of the Zeven Provienciën uprising, a mutiny on a Dutch warship.<ref name="Yamamoto 192">{{cite book |last1=Yamamoto |first1=Nobuto |title=Censorship in Colonial Indonesia 1901-1942 |date=2019 |publisher=Brill |isbn=9789004412408 |page=192}}</ref> The colonial government was worried about the widespread labour unrest that might be incited by continuing coverage of the event.<ref name="Yamamoto 192" />
In 1936, the paper was taken over by its more popular competitor, [[De Locomotief]].<ref name="takeover">{{cite news |title=Het "Als. Handelsblad". |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011110104:mpeg21:a0069 |work=Soerabaijasch handelsblad |date=4 January 1936}}</ref> Leertouwer and P. Scheepers were kept on as editors and it continued to be run as a separate newspaper.<ref name="takeover" />
===1939-1942: WWII brings an end under Scheepers ===
The editor of the paper in its final years was P. Scheepers, who, like his predecessor Jansen, was active in the [[Indo Europeesch Verbond]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Het I.E.V. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB23:001724043:mpeg21:a00162 |work=De locomotief |date=January 26, 1931 |language=nl}}</ref> as well as local sports organizations in Semarang, including football and cycling. He was editor of ''De Stadion-Revue'', a football magazine. He had also worked as an editor at the Handelsblad during Leertouwer's tenure, although the exact year he began is not clear.
The Algemeen Handelsblad ceased publication at some point in early 1942 during the [[Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies]], and never resumed after the war.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/results?cql%5B0%5D=%28ppn+exact+%22424436442%22%29&coll=dddtitel&redirect=true&sortfield=date Digitized issues of Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië] on [[Delpher]]
[[Category:Dutch-language newspapers published in the Dutch East Indies]]
[[Category:Dutch-language newspapers]]
[[Category:Defunct companies of the Dutch East Indies]]
[[Category:Defunct newspapers published in Indonesia]]
[[Category:1924 establishments in the Dutch East Indies]]
[[Category:1942 disestablishments in the Dutch East Indies]]