Attending King's Day, Menbud Calls Cultural Diplomacy And Repatriation A New Fraction Of The Republic Of Indonesia-Netherlands

Fadli Zon and Erick Thohir attended the King's Day event. (IST)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon, emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy as a new bridge for relations between Indonesia and the Netherlands. He made this statement during the King's Day (King's Day) celebration at the Dutch Embassy, Jakarta, Tuesday night (29/4/2025).

In his remarks, Fadli congratulated King Willem-Alexander and appreciated the close cultural cooperation between the two countries. He emphasized that the relationship between Indonesia and the Netherlands was not only built from a complex past, but also from the spirit of mutual respect and collaboration in the future.

"Cultural diplomacy is a bridge that brings together value, legacy, and common hope," said Fadli Zon in front of the Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia, Marc Gerritsen.

One concrete form of this collaboration is the repatriation process of Indonesian cultural objects from the Netherlands. To date, as many as 828 objects have been returned, including 68 objects from the Rotterdam Museum collection which were handed over last year at the National Museum of Indonesia.

"We appreciate the commitment of the Dutch in this repatriation process. This is an important milestone in recovery and respect for the nation's cultural heritage," said Fadli in a written statement received Wednesday, April 30.

To support the process, the Ministry of Culture formed a National Repatriation Team that focused on research on protection. This step ensures that the process of returning cultural objects runs transparently and is based on collaboration.

Fadli also highlighted the importance of cultural digitization. According to him, culture is not something static. Cooperation in the field of digital documentation, audiovisual coproduction, and the exchange of artists must continue to be strengthened.

"We have signed an audiovisual coproduction MoU as part of a commitment to building a multi-generational digital cultural ecosystem," he explained.

He also praised Erasmus Huis' active role in Jakarta as the only Dutch cultural center in the world, as well as the success of the Indonesian cultural exhibition in Amsterdam which was held last September.

At the end of his remarks, Fadli emphasized Indonesia's cultural wealth: 1,340 ethnic groups, 718 regional languages, and 16 intangible cultural heritages that UNESCO has recognized. Indonesia, he said, is now preparing to become a member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the preservation of the non-object cultural heritage for the 2026-2030 period.

"Culture must be a force for peace, understanding, and sustainable development," he concluded.

The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha, as well as Minister of SOEs and Chairman of PSSI Erick Thohir.