Legenda Sawung Kampret
Legenda Sawung Kampret is an Indonesian comic series about the colonial past in the early 17th century. Parts 1, 2 and 3 have been published in Dutch (2023; 2024; 2025). Part 4 is scheduled for release on 7 February 2026. Part 5, the final volume, will be presented in November 2026. The Dutch publication is an initiative by Jolien van der Geugten and her father, Tom van der Geugten.
Satirical comic about the past of the VOC
About Tom van der Geugten
Historian drs. Tom van der Geugten (Bandung, 1952) was a teacher and lecturer in secondary and higher education and is specializes in Indonesian and Indo-Dutch history.
At VU-University Amsterdam he teaches the HOVO courses 'Indonesia and the Netherlands' and 'The Indonesian image of the past'.
As an educational author, he contributed to textbooks such as Gechiedeniswerkplaats. He also made publications about the attention paid to the colonial past in textbooks, such as the chapter 'The history of slavery in Dutch education' in the recently published book Staat en slavernij. Het Nederlandse slavernijverleden en zijn doorwerking (State and Slavery. The Dutch Slavery Past and its Impact).
Photo: Tom van der Geugten
Why this comic?
When Tom van der Geugten studied Dutch and Indonesian comics, he found out two translated Dutch comics have been published in Indonesia - Rampokan by Peter van Dongen and De Terugkeer (Tapak Tilas) by Eric Heuvel and Ruud van der Rol - but there is not a single Dutch version of an Indonesian comic, while in the Netherlands there is a growing interest in the Indonesian image of the colonial past.
Most Indonesian historical comics are very serious in tone. An exception to this is the very humorous series Legenda Sawung Kampret in which the Dutch (not all of them!) like Jan Pieterszoon Coen are ridiculed. That is why this comic seemed ideally suited for a Dutch publication.
Translation:
Meanwhile, Governor General JP Coen exploded when he saw that his soldiers had failed.
Shame on you!!! That you have been defeated by such primitive people!! And also lost one bullet.
Two with the blank.
They are tough silat fighters, Your Excellency.
The most important thing is that no blood has been shed. We only have bumps on our heads, a crack here and there, dizziness and a few scorch marks.
Illustration: Image from the Indonesian comic Legenda Sawungkampret.
Book launch
Part 1, 2 and 3 are launched.
Part 4 will be presented February 7th 2026 in Amersfoort.
Photo: Presentation part 3, 2025. Jolien (left) and Tom van der Geugten (right) presented the first book to Jim Grondhuis from Amersfoort.
Guest speakers presentation November 2023
Dr. Mei Li Vos
Mei Li Vos is known as a politician, previously as a member of the Dutch House of Representatives and now of the Senate (GroenLinks/PvdA).
Prof. dr. Kees Ribbens
Prof. Dr. Pamela Pattynama
About Jolien van der Geugten
Dr. Jolien van der Geugten is senior researcher, writer and project leader.
W.Y.S. stands for What's Your Story? It is her mission to give people a voice and tell (hidden) stories through research and education.
When her father Tom van der Geugten came up with the plan to translate and publish this comic book into Dutch, she immediately was enthusiastic. The comic book gives the Indonesian perspective a voice, and in this form can also reach younger generations.
Photo: Carola Doornbos
Funding
This project is made possible by various funding organizations:
- vfonds (National Fund for Peace, Freedom and Veteran Care)/Houd je erfgoed levend
- DutchCulture; Matching Fund, International Heritage Fund (2024)
- Voordekunst (2024; 2025)
- KF Heinfonds (2025)
- Gemeente Amersfoort (2025; 2026)
[vfonds invests in peace]
"The way in which the Indonesian perspective is highlighted and the comic is placed in context in this project can be of added value to an understanding of the Indo-Dutch dual identity. In addition, the project contributes to a polyphonic understanding of history by a wide audience, especially among younger generations."