Penelehhistory.com: Surabaya (31/7/24) – Two national flags of Indonesia, Red-White, and Dutch, Red-White-Blue, witnessed the discussion of the two heads of government of the City of Surabaya and the Dutch Embassy to Indonesia. These two flags seemed to summarize the discussion between the two heads of government, regarding the idea of future cooperation between Surabaya and the Netherlands.
There are several ideas. Namely Sister City Surabaya-Rotterdam, Water Management (Kalimas river), Revitalization of the Peneleh Cemetery (already underway) and Revitalisation and Utilization of the Gedung Singa.
The meeting between Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi and Dutch Ambassador Lambert Grijns on Monday (29/7/24) and Lambert Grijns’ visit to the Peneleh Cemetery (30/7/24) is the gateway to Dutch – Surabaya cooperation. All related parties certainly really hope that this idea of friendship can be realized and develop into real action in the future, which will provide benefits for both parties (mutual cooperation).
The presence of the Old Town of Surabaya will certainly encourage the realization of all these cooperation ideas. The Old Town of Surabaya, especially the European zone, can be a home to this mutually beneficial cooperation to take place.
The Old Town of Surabaya must be an inspiration for the progress of Surabaya. Visitors, who come to the Old Town not only enjoy the beauty of various colonial architectural works, but are invited to be involved in thinking and being creative and actively innovating within the framework of cooperation between two nations (Surabaya-Beoanda) for the future of Surabaya.
The time has come, through the Old Town, there is cooperation based on the values of the Old Town. Namely cooperation based on Cultural Heritage, History and Culture between Surabaya and the Netherlands. For example, the Sister City Surabaya Rotterdam collaboration. In Surabaya there is the legendary Kalimas river. While in Rotterdam there is the iconic river De Maas.
So a forum called “Chambers of International Heritage and Cultural Cooperation” (CIHCC) can be set. These chambers will later become a driver of sustainable and visionary activities in Kota Lama.
What did they say about the news and opportunities for collaboration with Dutch – Surabaya after the meeting between Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi and Dutch Ambassador Lambert Grijns?
Max Meijer, director of TiMe Amsterdam
Surabaya meeting was Good news. Then Dutch Ambassador Lambert Grijns paid a visit to Peneleh project “Peneleh as a Living Library”. He was shown around at Makam Peneleh by the Begandring team.
Makam Peneleh was in use from around 1847 to 1950 and currently is part of a community based, grassroots revitalization and empowerment project. TiMe Amsterdam is the proud Dutch partner in this bilateral project ‘Makam Peneleh as a Living Library’, which is supported by Dutch Culture and the City of Surabaya.
The visit was a great success according to Nanang Purwono. The Begandring team was most happy to host the Ambassador, who was joined by Remco Vermeulen of the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency RCE and some other participants of ICAS13 (the 13th edition of the International Convention for Asia Scholars) held in Surabaya).
During our next visit to Surabaya in October 2024, we will continue our support and onsite knowledge exchange activities with the energetic Begandring team.
Desmond Koot, the Netherlands
Surabaya, a vibrant city with a rich array of Dutch heritage buildings, particularly in the Old Town area, recently welcomed distinguished visitors from the Netherlands. The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta Lambert Grijns, along with the Education and Science Attaché Yvonne Klerks and the team, attended the 13th International Convention for Asian Studies (ICAS) from July 28–30.
Surabaya is a key city for higher education and science cooperation. The Education and Science team met with officials from Universitas Airlangga , one of Indonesia’s top universities, which maintains strong connections with several Dutch universities.
During the visit to Surabaya, the ambassador participated in a round table discussion on the Surabaya Old Town revitalization project.
He also visited the ongoing joint project between a local heritage Community of Begandring and Dutch profesional heritage agent TiMe Amsterdam, “Peneleh as a Living Library”.
A courtesy meeting with the Mayor of Surabaya Eri Cahyadi, the ambassador discussed the revitalization project and water management, Kalimas.
The ambassador also opened an exhibition in the iconic Dutch heritage building, De Javasche Bank, as part of ICAS.
To him It was a delightful opportunity to connect and reconnect with all attendees.
Joëlla van Donkersgoed, PhD candidate, researching Banda.
Yesterday (Tuesday, 30 July 2024), we talked about making the stories of the people that are buried in the Peneleh cemetery more visible: to show their faces and tell who they are. Like the grave of the man (Pietermaat) who built a mosque in Surabaya. After the cemetery is mapped, and you know the names of the people who are there, you can share that information with the Netherlands. Then institutions (museum, library) and public (family) can give you information about the people: foto, document etc.
I think this exchange of information can be very good. It can help to make the cemetery library: with a tour of women’s history, a tour of military history, a tour of art history etc. (Nanang)