 Edition of 4 April 1899 | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | P. A. Daum |
| Founded | 1 December 1885 |
| Language | Dutch |
| Ceased publication | December 1957 |
| Headquarters | Batavia, Dutch East Indies |
The Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad (Dutch pronunciation: [baːˈtaːvijaːs ˈniuzblɑt]; Batavian Newspaper) was one of the leading and largest daily newspapers in the Dutch East Indies. It was based in Batavia (now Jakarta) on Java, but read throughout the archipelago. It was founded by the famous Dutch newspaperman and author P. A. Daum in 1885 and existed to 1957.
The innovative and popular newspaper was very critical towards the colonial government and became a mouthpiece for the Indos in the Dutch East Indies, who were the largest Dutch speaking segment of society. Over the years it had employed many leading figures from the Indo-European (Eurasian) community, including: E. du Perron, Ernest Douwes Dekker and Tjalie Robinson. P.A. Daum's successor as editor in chief Karel Zaalberg, became the founder of the Indo Europeesch Verbond, the largest social movement and political organisation for Indo-Europeans.
The progressive newspaper also gave ample publicity to the plight of the indigenous peasantry and the evolution of Indonesian national awareness. It was the first to report on the founding of the first indigenous political organisation Budi Utomo in 1908.