I am currently reading Navigators and Naturalists: French Exploration of New Zealand & the South Seas by New Zealand author Michael Lee. He mentions about the Duperrey's expedition of 1824 on the La Coquille, which visited the Dutch East Indies outpost of Waigeo. It is mentioned that Malays, Chinese, Europeans and Papuans co-exist with each other, with upper class Europeans adopting Malay and Chinese attire. The French explorers apparently attended a Dutch play attended by Malays, Chinese and Europeans. I am curious to know the full extent of race relations in the Dutch colonial period of Indonesia. Was their racial segregation? Did the Sultans have the same status and power as the Dutch colonials or were they subordinated? Was slavery there entirely racialised?
I imagine you are puzzeled by the seemingly egalitarian atmosphere that is described and the indulgence of the European settlers in Asian culture. That is because our current view of colonialism is largely painted by the late 19th century/early 20th century colonialist ideas.
The Dutch East Indies were colonised since the 15th century. Way longer than the 19th century 'age of colonialism' colonies. For instance Vietnam was colonised by the French in the 1860. This meant that there had been a relatively long time of cultural (and venereal) exchange between the Dutch and the Asian people. This meant that there was not only the Asian and European people you mentioned, but also a relatively large number of métis, people of mixed blood. And it was indeed fashionable for the Europeans to adopt a liking for asian culture and dress, as that was more suited for the climate.
So the timeframe Lee's book is set in this was not unheard of. Things started to change in the second half of the 19th century. Up untill then the Dutch colonial presence wasn't huge. They mainly guarded the coastal cities and did bussiness with local rulers, who took care of most of the agriculture. But in the late nineteenth century more and more Dutch colonists came over and started plantations. These people often brought over their families. With families came schools and churches and some new ideas that had risen up back at home in the wake of nationalism such as 'burgherdom'.
This complex idea had parts of morality, racial superiority and cultural improvement through education. Instead of the former interest in local culture the Asians were thought of as 'uncultured' and degenerate. Therefore European education was needed. Richer Indo-Europeans would send off their kids to the Netherlands for education, whereas the poorer ones were taken in by convents in order to set them on the right path and unlearn all their 'native' degeneracies.
Of course there was always some amount racial difference. The very large group of people that did the work either for the local rulers or on the plantations were always poor slaves. But the stark racial viewpoints only emerged in the late 19th century. Even then there was always an exeption for the more socially fortunate. Indiginous kings, though subordinated, were well regarded and Indo-Europeans who had managed to do well played a role in high sociëty (though were never entirely seen as equals).
So racial ideas emerged in the late 19th century, whilst classisist segregation was always present. The Europeans indulged in Asian culture untill the ideas of 'burgherdom' made that unfashinable. In the upper strata of society there remained a place for some fortunate people of color, but most East Indian people were either slaves or servants.
Sources: