Controversial Indonesia exhibition cost-effective thanks to 100,000 visitors | Book & Culture

The exhibition opened on October 21 and closed on Monday with a speech by writer Reggie Baay. The exhibition formed a diptych with The Great Suriname Exhibition, which was on display in the church on Dam Square in the winter of 2019/2020 and attracted a record number of 183,000 visitors.

The retrospective exhibition on Indonesia did not focus on a specific period or art historical theme, but on the larger story of the archipelago. “The exhibition provides an impression of the long and eventful history and the rich cultures of the country and its inhabitants over the centuries,” wrote De Nieuwe Kerk.

The exhibition location and the National Archives confirmed in June that objects stolen from Indonesians would be on display. The choice was controversial, because the cabinet was waiting for advice on the return of stolen objects.

That advice is now available. Looted property from former Dutch colonies that is in state archives must be able to be reclaimed by the rightful owners. But the Netherlands does not have to automatically grant their refund request.

Even before it even opened, there was already discussion about whether you could exhibit captured – and therefore stolen – archive documents. The Nieuwe Kerk decided just before the opening of The Great Indonesia Exhibition to show copies of stolen archive documents. The exhibition location previously promised not to show replicas without permission from rights holders. There was no such permission for at least eighteen pieces.

The organization of the exhibition was criticized by interest groups. They even called the exhibition location’s move to make money through stolen objects “crazy”. An entrance ticket cost 22.50 euros.

For the exhibition, De Nieuwe Kerk collaborated with historians, students, museums, writers and experts in Indonesia and the Netherlands.