Klaas Kemp Hallo! Dutch with Indonesian nationality who first came to Indonesia in 1947 on a Navy ship.
Including my time in the Navy, I'm here for 44 years. In 1947, I was called to the Dutch Navy. After three months of training in Hilversum, I arrived three weeks tropen verlof and September 6th of e I boarded the troopship Sloterdijk voor N.O.I. and my first landing was in Sabang. The next stop was Batavia where I arrived a few days later, I was sent to Soerabaja (Surabaya) where I got in Ambon, a small warship that has been repaired. Half of the crew was on holiday in Bali and when the next part went to Bali, I was one, which was a good start for me. My first patrol duty brought me two weeks between Semarang and Rembang. The following month, we patrolled the islands of the Riau archipelago, followed by trips to Borneo, Celebes and in August 1948, we visited the island of Ambon for a celebration when the Dutch first landed on the island 350 years ago. In Makassar we stopped one week for small repairs then to Batavia. Entering the narrow mine free channel, I was on deck and saw something floating, the guy next to me shouted mine, panic. We were off course and in the middle of a minefield! The water was clear and we were all stationed along the ramp to watch the mines. With a machine gun, they managed to run the mine and we arrived safely at Batavia. Upon arrival, I received a message that I was transferred to the mess on MLD van Heutzplein. I stayed in Batavia the rest of my tour of duty and returned to the Netherlands with the troopship Zuiderkruis. The end of November 1949 I was dismissed from the navy with a medal engraved with; voor orde en vrede (Order and Peace).
A few months after my return from N.O.I., I was accepted by Holland America Line. May 5 e 1950, I made my first trip as a server on the S.S. Veendam and served with HAL for 24 years. I often train new servers when the cruise season has begun, which was my hobby. When the company started with the Indonesian staff in 1971, I was sent to Indonesia as school training manager Hotel in Bandung. With five members of staff and HAL Indonesian teachers we trained boys in 1400 to work on cruise ships. In September 1973 the training was stopped and we were sent to Holland to work on cruise ships HAL. I resigned from H.A.L and was accepted by the hotel group Aero-Wisata Garuda-KLM as training manager for newly opened hotels. I signed a contract in Den Haag and arrived in Jakarta Kartika Plaza Hotel early December 1973. I was working for the group until September 1977 and accepted an offer to work as GM in Hotel Homann in Bandung to be near my family. It was a mistake and I resigned in March 1978. In April I accepted an offer from Oasis Restaurant, where I presented the Rijsttafel.
What is your most memorable experience of serving in the Royal Netherlands Navy in Indonesia?
The navy has also made use of (river patrol boats) PR in the Riau Archipelago with a crew of seven. All the food was canned and heated over a fire of charcoal, weather permitting. One of the PR world in a fight with an outboard, several members of the crew were injured and one dead. The Ambon was called for help, the wounded and dead were taken and brought to Tanjung Pinang.
You have successfully 'Souvenirs', the theme restaurant Old Dutch Colonial that was very famous in Jakarta. What is your best memory of those days?
My best memory was when a group of Navy officers asked me to play music HOLLANDS VLAG JE BENT MIJN GLORIE and they were all singing.
The restaurant industry a difficult industry to perform in Indonesia?
If you have enough money and know your way through the bureaucracy, it is not a difficult business to run.
Did you ever want to come back to the Netherlands?
The answer is NO! When I returned to the Netherlands in 1949, I vowed to return to Indonesia, as I love the country and above all, people.
What is life like in Bandung?
Nice, cool and no disturbing air. I stay at home on the weekends as tourists beyond the city Jakarta.
Are there websites in Bandung that visitors should see?
The Tangkuban Prahu Mountain is a must. A angklung (bamboo musical instrument) performance is also highly recommended.
How did you stumble into the world of antiques?
When I came to live in Bandung, working for HAL, all people who spent night with all sorts of antiques. They began to unpack things and I became interested and bought a few pieces. My wife also loved and soon my house was full of all the stuff I bought.
Any advice for someone who wants to start collecting antiques in Indonesia?
Know that 99% of what you are buying is a fake.
You celebrated your birthday last week. Can I ask how old are you and celebrate in style?
I am now 85 years old. Our traditional dish for the holidays is NASI Uduk with our family.
Do you have any advice for our readers on how to live a happy life?
If you have a quarrel with your wife, do not go to sleep until you have done so.
This is very good advice. Klaas thank you! If you wish to contact Klass, email him at klaaskemp@hotmail.com