Indonesian Embassy in The Hague Inaugurates the First Pura in the Netherlands
JAKARTA – The Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mayerfas, inaugurated the first pura (a Hindu temple) in the Netherlands on Saturday, November 30, 2024. The pura is located in Taman Indonesia, Kallenkote, Overijssel.
“This pura is not only a place for worship rituals for the Balinese Hindus in the Netherlands and surroundings, but also a symbol of shared pride, evidence of determination, harmony, tolerance, and spirit of togetherness,” said Mayerfas, quoted from the official statement of the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague.
The Balinese community in the Netherlands, numbering more than 250 people, has long desired the establishment of a pura for worship and to celebrate important days. So far, they have had to rent buildings and move around, including traveling to a pura in Belgium.
“In the Netherlands, there are already many mosques and churches owned by the Indonesian diaspora, so our Balinese Hindu community also really wants to have a pura. This is also for our future generations,” said Made Aniadi, the head of the Bali Abdi Samasta Foundation.
Aniadi was touched because the struggle for many years had finally materialized. “We are very happy because the Galungan Kuningan celebrations next year can already be held in this pura,” he said.
The initiative to establish the pura from the Balinese Community has been fully supported by the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague by providing facilitation for its realization. In addition to voluntary contributions from the diaspora community in the Netherlands, many parties have also assisted, including Balinese residents from Indonesia who donated materials for the pura made from black stones from Karangasem.
The materials were sent via sea expedition from Denpasar and arrived in Rotterdam in early March 2024. The foundation construction began in May. The construction of the Padmasana building and its Panglurah was completed in just 9 days, from November 19 to 27, 2024, with the assistance of two experts brought in from Bali.
The pura was provided by the Indonesian Taman Indonesia owned by Marlisa and Diederik Wareman, siblings who are Dutch citizens from a family that loves Indonesian culture. Within the park, they also created a zoo with various animal and tropical vegetation collections.
The determination of the location and layout for establishing the pura within Taman Indonesia has been adjusted to the concept of Asta Kosala Kosali. The pura is located within a garden surrounded by flora and fauna from Indonesia and far from the city’s hustle and bustle.
This concept is in line with the given name, ‘Shanta Citta Bhuwana,’ which means a place to seek peace and tranquility of mind. The existence of the pura in Taman Indonesia is also expected to enhance the repertoire as well as a means of promoting Indonesian culture and traditions in the Netherlands, which in turn can further enhance tourism to the country.
Source: en.tempo.co
