Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, which consists of more than 17,000 islands. As an archipelago country, Indonesia has a maritime potential. Ironically, Indonesia does not have the...Show moreIndonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, which consists of more than 17,000 islands. As an archipelago country, Indonesia has a maritime potential. Ironically, Indonesia does not have the capacity to explore more its potential. This thesis describes that there are certain requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to achieve maritime power in the period before Indonesia, both economic and political. In this thesis, port development is chosen to represent the effort of the Dutch colonial government to enhance maritime power. The main question of this thesis is how did the Dutch colonial government of the Netherlands Indies exercise the maritime power in competition with the British in 1824-1914? To answer the research question, I worked with primary sources and secondary sources, such as Politieke Verslagen en Berichten uit de Buitengewesten, Haringhuizen-Schoemaker collection, 1872-1970, and some books that related to maritime development in Southeast Asia. I present political and economic development that contributed to the maritime power development. I also present six major ports development as representation of maritime power in the Netherlands Indies. The result shows that the Dutch colonial government the Dutch was able to fulfill the requirements to achieve maritime power by conquering the Outer Islands and their economic potential. The result also show that even though KPM (Koninkelijke Paketvaart Maatschappij)created a strong network of shipping lines they failed to maximize the effort to compete the British Singapore maritime power until the Great War.Show less
