Arie de Jong 1865 – 1957
Biography
Arie de Jong was born on October 18, 1865, in Jakarta, beginning a life that would span nearly a century. His formative years were shaped by the Dutch colonial landscape of the East Indies, an experience that would inform his worldview and intellectual pursuits. Though born far from Europe, de Jong would eventually establish himself in the Netherlands, where he became known for his passionate involvement in the international auxiliary language movement.
De Jong devoted much of his life to Volapük, the constructed language created in the 1870s as a tool for international communication and understanding. As a volapükist, he contributed to efforts that sought to bridge linguistic divides and foster greater connection among people of different nations. His commitment to this idealistic cause reflected the spirit of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century internationalism, a period when many believed that shared language could promote peace and cooperation.
De Jong lived a remarkably long life, witnessing the dramatic transformations of the modern world. He passed away on October 12, 1957, in Putten, just days before what would have been his ninety-second birthday. His legacy endures as part of the broader history of those who labored to advance international understanding through innovative means.
