By the first decade of the twentieth century, Dutch influence had penetrated even further into Indonesian culture. In remote, scattered villages that are only accessible by foot, residences from that period have European characteristics. Common architectural features displaying this Netherlandish influence are Doric or Ionic columns or pilasters (that are not in proper proportion), a pediment which is sometimes poorly ornamented, and European decorated floor tiles. These buildings, however, are products of local vernacular practice. It is doubtful that Dutch architects were involved due to the low quality of workmanship. It is more probable that the architect was an Indonesian who had once worked with a Dutch architect or craftsman -- many of the villagers who tried their hands at construction during this period were farmers trying to earn a living during the agricultural off season.

Why did these villagers adopt european styles while maintaining their indigenous village organization? Was it a demonstration of skill on the part of the 'architect'? Or was it an expression of 'modernity' that the client desired? Whatever the answer to these questions, one thing is now obvious: European styles had undergone the process of assimilation and transformation. In fact by the 20th century European styles were no longer considered alien. What happened with the architecture that the Dutch planted in Indonesia at this period? Gill suggests that by this time Netherlandish building practices and styles had merged with the indigenous architecture in such a way that was suitable for the country's yearly pattern of dry and rainy seasons.^Ref.1 He called this modified style: 'Indische huis,' or Indies building. (Fig. 3) Comparison with modified European architecture across other continents, particularly in Africa, Australia, and Central America, shows similarities with other assimilated architectural colonial forms. Some of these forms common to other hybrid architectural production are a large veranda in the front part of the building; a long projecting roof extending from the sides of the building (which sometimes became a side veranda); and the high-pitched roof which sometimes used local materials such as reeds or wooden tiles.

One of the distinguishing features of the Indische huis is its use of the indigenous roof forms, the most important being the extended hipped roof. This roof form, unfamiliar to the Dutch mother country, was so transformed by colonial architects that it had little similarity to vernacular architecture of the Indies. However, since the architecture was now different from the Netherlands, the Dutch saw it as 'Indianized', a modified European architecture.

Fig. 3: Indische Huis