Why can blandongdiensten be seen not only as labour but also as a system of control?

Correct answer: Through it, the Dutch regulated rural labour and the supply of teak

Under blandongdiensten, villages in Java had to provide labour for cutting and transporting teak for the Dutch colonial administration. Thus, it did not merely obtain workers; it also controlled village labour, forest use, and the supply of timber. It did not grant forest ownership to local people; rather, their customary rights were restricted. Exam tip: use the phrase ‘colonial control over rural labour and teak supply’.