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Received:  
June 2, 2021 
 
Revised:  
June 7, 2021 
 
Accepted:  
June 8, 2021 

The Role of Cornelis Chastelein in the Development of the  
Depok Region, 1693-1714 

 
Hari Naredi, Ahmad Ruslan,* Amar Septian, Nunung Siti Nurjanah, Anwar Jadid, 

Fras Bagaskara, Iqbal Gagah Soekarno, Imam Rizki Al Fatih 
Department of History Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, 

University of Muhammadiyah Prof. Hamka, Jakarta - Indonesia 
 

*Corresponding Author: ruslan@uhamka.ac.id 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ihis.v5i1.11154 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Introduction 
History cannot be separated from human, space, and time elements. According to 
(Kuntowijoyo, 2013) history is about human beings. Throughout their lives, human 
beings experience myriad events within the extent of space and time. This is what 
makes a historical event. The continuity of this historical event occurs in the concept 
of space or the place where an event takes place. This concept of space has resulted in 
divisions in history such as local history, national history, world history. Meanwhile, 
the concept of time shows when an event occurs. According to (Kuntowijoyo, 2013) 
history talks about society in terms of time and therefore history is the science of time. 
Historical events leave traces of history, also known as historical relics. These relics 
can be investigated and reconstructed into a historical writing. 

Depok has historically been a supporting area for Batavia because of its 
geographical proximity to other regions (Government of Depok, 2021). Apart from 
being the center of government, Depok remains a buffer zone for the capital city of 
Jakarta in the fields of housing, education, and trade and services. In addition, the 
existence of a railway connecting Batavia with Buitenzorg starting on October 15, 1869 

Abstract 
 

In the course of its history, The Depok area has had interesting dynamics. The 
growth of Depok has been inseparable from the people who originally settled in 
the area. Depok’s emergence and growth as a city has been due to in large part the 
role of Cornelis Chastelein. At the end of the 17th century, he plotted the area of 
Depok and since then, it began to witness growth and development of that area. 
This study analyzes the traces and relics of Cornelis Chastelein in Depok in the 
period 1693 and 1714. It uses historical analysis technique in which carried out 
through four stages, consist of heuristics, verification, interpretation, and 
historiography. According to the study, it shows that the history of Depok cannot 
be separated from Chastelein. His legacy in the form of colonial buildings can be 
found in the Depok area, West Java. Apart from the visible physical legacy, 
Chastelein also freed slaves, allowing them to live independently and become the 
original residents of Depok. 
 
Keywords: Cornelis Chastelein; Depok; Land Ownership. 



 
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further established its role. According to (Mudaryanti, 2016) in the 17th century the 
Depok area was owned by a high-ranking Verenige Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC) 
official named Cornelis Chastelein. The Depok area became private real estate 
inhabited by slaves from various ethnic groups. In the course of its history, the Depok 
area transformed from private real estate into government property after Indonesia’s 
independence, from being a sub-district in the administrative area of Parung, Bogor 
Regency to its status as the Administrative City of Depok. The city center at that time 
was in Pancoran Mas, now called Old Depok. 

The Depok area during the Cornelis Chastelein era was run by workers from 
various ethnicities. To support the management of Depok, Chastelein provided 
literacy education, taught Dutch, and introduced Christianity to his slaves. Among 
Cornelis Chastelein’s legacies are colonial buildings in Depok, such as the YLCC 
(Cornelis Chastelein Foundation) Pastori building, the Western Indonesian Protestant 
Church (GPIB) Immanuel (the first church in Depok), Panus Bridge, Harapan Hospital, 
Cornelis Chasthelein Monument, Kamboja cemetery. According to Estin, Antariksa, 
and Suryasari (2017) Dutch colonial buildings have high historical value, providing 
insights to architechtural developments during the era and the city’s growth. After 
Cornelis Chastelein died, these slaves were freed and were given the land for them to 
manage. It paved the way for the formation a community known as Belanda Depok. 
This study explores the role of Cornelis Chastelein in the development of Depok and 
its people. This paper traces Cornelis Chastelein’s life in Depok starting with his work 
at VOC to being a landlord in the Depok. 
 
Method 
This study adopts a historical research method to examine the role of Cornelis 
Chastelein in developing the region and society of Depok. The research method 
according to (Sugiyono, 2017) is a scientific way to obtain data with particular goals 
and uses. Meanwhile, according to (Wasino & Hartatik, 2020) the historical method is 
a proper way to achieve historical verification.  There are four stages to perform the 
historical method, heuristics, critics, interpretation, and historical writing 
(historiography). 

In heuristics or data collection, collected historical sources. The sources were 
obtained in Cornelis Chastelein Foundation building, the Western Indonesian 
Protestant Church (GPIB) Immanuel, Panus Bridge, Harapan Hospital, Cornelis 
Chasthelein Monument, Kamboja Cemetery. The data obtained in the form of 
manuscripts, books, photos, and other documents to the history of Depok, Cornelis 
Chastelein, as well as the life of the people of Depok. After the sources were obtained, 
then it could be verified or criticized its credibility (Kuntowijoyo, 2013). Then it 
continues to conduct interpretation and historical writing. 

 
Profile of Cornelis Chastelein 
Cornelis Chastelein was born in Amsterdam on August 10, 1657 into Anthony 
Chastelein and Maria Nicolai and was the youngest of 10 children (Cornelis Chastelein 



 
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Foundation, 2021). He married Cathrina Van Quaelbergt around 1680 and they had a 
son named Anthony Chasthelein and a daughter named Judith Chasthelein 
(Kwisthout, 2015). In addition, Cornelis Chastelein also had a daughter from his 
marriage to Leonara van Bali, named Maria Chasthelein, who was legally adopted, 
and another daughter named Catharina van Batavia, who was not legally adopted, 
from his marriage to Cecilia van Bali (Mudaryanti, 2017). 

In 1675, Cornelis Chastelein set foot in Batavia in the Dutch East Indies. He 
departed on January 24, 1675 on the ship "Huis van Kleef" from the port of Texel in the 
Netherlands with his two sisters, Machteld and Ida, and his aunt Henriette. He arrived 
in Batavia on August 16, 1675 (Cornelis Chastelein Foundation Foundation, 2016). He 
was a high-ranking VOC official who worked in Batavia. He started his career at VOC 
as a bookkeeper in the accounting department. In 1682, he became a big merchant 
(groot winkelier) and then climbed the career ladder to become a second-class senior 
merchant (tweede opperkoopman) (Cornelis Chastelein Foundation Foundation 2020). 
Due to health problems in 1691, he resigned from his position in the VOC. However, 
in fact, in 1691 there was a change of Governor General from Johannes Camphuys to 
Willem van Outhoorn. Cornelis Chastelein disagreed with the way Governor General 
Willem van Outhoorn exploited the natives for profit. In line with this, Cornelis 
Chastelein was deceived by the VOC into engaging in colonialism or exploitation 
instead of enlightenment as taught by Christianity (Interview with J. J. Rizal). After 
resigning from the VOC, on May 18, 1696, he purchased a land area of 1244 hectares 
to build a business engaged in agriculture and mission to spread protestantism and 
christianity (Perwata, 2018). 

According to (Harahap, 2018) the Depok area and its surroundings during the 
Dutch colonial period were agricultural land (onderneming). In the second half of the 
17th century the small circle of Batavian aristocrats began to establish and maintain 
plantations. They lived outside Batavia and around Batavia (Kwisthout, 2015). People 
wanted to live in areas outside the fortress of the city of Batavia. Managing land for 
use as a place for agriculture certainly requires human labor (interview with J. J. Rizal). 
In managing agricultural land Cornelis Chastelein bought slaves from the king of Bali 
(Perwata, 2018). Around the 17th century Bali was part of the international trade route. 
However, according to (Pardi, 2018) in addition to agricultural products and crafts, 
traders were also interested in buying slaves from Bali, especially traders from the 
Netherlands. Slaves from Bali were needed by the VOC to work as servants and 
soldiers. These slaves from Bali, apart from being sold in Batavia, were also sold to 
other areas. In addition, Chastelein bought slaves from other areas such as Makassar, 
Timor Minahasa and from the eastern part of the archipelago. There were 
approximately 150 slaves had been brought to Batavia. However, there were no 
Javanese slaves worked for Chasthelein. It was due to that the agreement between the 
VOC and the Mataram kingdom was not permissible for the people of Java to become 
slaves. Chastelein became a caring figure who treated slaves properly. It because that 
he had a fairly high education and received religious teachings from his parents who 
were Protestant Christians.  



 
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Cornelis Chastelein died on June 28, 1714. Before he died, he paid attention to the 
welfare of his slaves and wrote a will. In another note, he had a plan to free all of 150 
slaves who had brough to Batavia and they had the right to own and manage the land 
under condition that they must become Christians. 

 
The Origin of Depok 
A region is often named after its characteristics and legendary folklores. There are 
several versions for the origin of the name Depok (Perwata, 2018). According to one 
version, the Depok area was a place to meditate and get peace. Another version states 
that Depok comes from the word padepokan. Another version states that Depok is an 
abbreviation of De Eerse Protestantse Organisatie van Kristenen. Meanwhile, the word 
padepokan came up because the Ciliwung river was part of the Padjajaran kingdom's 
power (Rahardjo et al., 2018). It writes that Ciliwung River was controlled by the 
Padjajaran kingdom because its connection to the center of the kingdom. 

Since he had resigned from VOC, Cornelis Chastelein began focused on 
agriculture. Before buying land in Depok, he had already owned land in Gambir, 
Senen, Srengseng, and Mampang areas. In 1696, the Depok area came under his 
control. According to Mudaryanti (2017) the Depok land was purchased by Cornelis 
Chastelein from Lucas Van De Meur, a Cirebon resident for 300 rijksdaakders. The 
Depok was transformed into agricultural field planted with pepper, indigo, citron, 
jackfruit, soursop, cocoa, and star fruit. In addition, he raised raising cows and buffalo 
and even established coal, tiles and other potter factories. 

Cornelis Chastelein believed that there was only one way to improve the lives of 
the Indies, by establishing an agricultural society (landbouwgemeenschappen) and that 
agriculture was more important than trade under the VOC. By establishing a 
prosperous agricultural center, the colony would be able to function optimally 
(Kwisthout, 2015).  

According to Mudaryanti (2017), Depok’s land status as ownership title 
(eigendom verponding) from 1714, until the Governor-General Herman Willem 
Daendels from 1808 to 1811 decided to give private status to the purchased lands. This 
meant that buyers enjoyed full ownership rights (eigendom) that applied for 
generations. This also meant that Depok was privately-onwed. The Depok area, which 
became private property, was inhabited by various ethnic groups who served as slaves 
for Cornelis Chasthelein. 

Depok history cannot be separated from Cornelis Chastelein and his heritage of 
colonial buildings, one of which is the YLCC building, namely the Pastori building, 
the Western Indonesian Protestant Church (GPIB) Immanuel which the first church in 
Depok, Panus Bridge which is the oldest bridge in Depok, Harapan Hospital which is 
the oldest hospital in Depok, Cornelis Chasthelein Monument, Kamboja cemetery, 
Depok Cultural Heritage, and Sekolah Kasih become the first school in Depok. 
According to Estin, Antariksa, & Suryasari (2017) Dutch colonial buildings have a high 
historical value, regarding the development of buildings in their time and the 
development of the city. Apart from the physical form, the most visible legacy is the 



 
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freedom of slaves who can live independently to continuously grow into Depok 
people. 
 
Emergence of the Dutch Influence in Depok  
There were 150 slaves who had freed and had the right to manage 1.244 hectares of 
land under the certain requirement, they should be Christians. It was written in his 
will and was revised five times. The initial draft of his will, made on July 4, 1696 and 
the last draft finished on March 13, 1714. This last concept is known as Cornelis 
Chastelein's will. It would come into force on June 28, 1714 (Cornelis Chastelein 
Foundation Foundation, 2020). After accepting Christianity, the slaves were grouped 
by Baprima Lucas into 12 clans. It consists of Leander, Bacas, Soedira, Izakh, Samuel, 
Jonathan, Loen, Yacob, Laurens, Yoseph, Tholese, Zadokh. 

Perwata (2018) writes that there was a cultural leap after they were freed. Their 
role changed and later became landowners who managed agriculture, plantations, and 
livestock. However, they did not manage their farms themselves and instead leased 
them out, because of their inability to manage them. Gradually their situation changed 
after in the 18th century thanks to the policy of the Batavian Church Council, which 
allowed religious teachers to be placed in Depok to teach and visit congregations. 

According to Tampi (2018) the slaves grew into a large community, gaining the 
nickname Belanda Depok (Depok Dutch). Depok people were a community of migrants 
on the island of Java. They were not Javanese, but a colony of Depok settlements in 
Java. They were the descendants of freed slaves who developed the Depok area. 

According to Mudaryanti (2016) the term Belanda Depok emerged because of 
differences in lifestyles. The Belanda Depok lived a Dutch lifestyle. They enjoyed the 
same rights as Europeans and education in schools for the Dutch and spoke Dutch. 
Meanwhile, Belanda Depok were native Indonesians. The term Belanda Depok was 
mockery from train passengers from Buitenzorg who observed Depok people 
speaking Malay mixed with Dutch. This was the origin of the term Belanda Depok. 
According to (Lasmiyati, 2017) the construction of the railroad connecting Batavia with 
Buitenzorg began on October 15, 1869. The railway line between Batavia and 
Buitenzorg extended 58.6 km. There were 15 stations starting from Pasar Ikan Station, 
Jakarta Kota Station, Sawah Besar, Noordwijk (water gate), Gambir, Pegangsaan, 
Jatinegara, Sunday Market, Lenteng Agung, Pondok Cina, Depok, Citayam, Bojong 
Gedeh, Cibelut, and ending in Bogor. 

In terms of religion, the Depok people were shepherd by Baprima Lucas from 
1713 and J. M. Sudirman from 1947-1955. Culturally, they came from different tribes 
with diverse cultural backgrounds. However, because many of them came from the 
Bali, so that Balinese culture more prominent (Jonathans, 2011). In holidays, dodol 
cakes, iwel, geplak were served to a type of gamelan musical instruments (Cornelis 
Chastelein Foundation Foundation, 2020). In addition, in its development, the 
descendants of the Depok people then initiated a forum called the Cornelis Chastelein 
Institution on August 4, 1952. Then, in 1990 it changed its name to the YLCC. This 
foundation is engaged in social, humanitarian, and religious fields.  



 
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Conclusions  
Historically, the development of Depok areas could not be separated from Cornelis 
Chastelien who became an important figure who established and developed Depok. 
He was affiliated with VOC and became a major merchant (groot winkelier) and rose to 
become a second-class senior merchant (tweede opperkoopman). He resigned from VOC 
due to his disagreement with the way Governor General Willem Vvan Outhoorn 
treated slaves and exploited natives. Then he built a business engaged in agriculture 
and mission to spread Christianity. The Depok area became private land inhabited by 
various ethnic groups from the slave trade. The slaves who were freed over time had 
descendants until there grew to become a large community, gaining the nickname 
Belanda Depok (Depok Dutch). The original Depok people applied the Dutch lifestyles 
and enjoyed the same rights as Europeans. 
 
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