Volksraad was a representative body established during the administration of the Dutch East Indies. The Volksraad was formed on 19 December 1916 and convened for the first time on 18 May 1918. The Volksraad was headquartered in the Volksraad Building, which is now the Pancasila Building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta. The purpose of establishing the Volksraad was to accommodate the aspirations of the people through representatives from three groups (Bumiputera, European, and Foreign Eastern). However, it was met with scepticism from nationalist circles.

Members of the Volksraad were elected through two methods: direct appointment by the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies and limited elections by regional representative bodies divided into several electoral districts across Indonesia. Members of the Volksraad came from various professions, including regional leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, civil servants, political activists, and others.

Although considered to have no impact on improving public welfare by nationalist groups, Members of the Volksraad from the Bumiputera group voiced aspirations for independence and defended political activists who were repressively targeted by the Dutch East Indies Government through meetings in the Volksraad, such as: the establishment of the National Fraction, the proposal of the Soetardjo Petition, and the creation of the “Indonesia Berparlemen” movement initiated by the Indonesian Political Federation (GAPI).