Amsterdam, September 18 (AseanAll)  — The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno L. P. Marsudi, together with the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mayerfas, unveiled a nameplate on the front wall of a five-story building located at Brachthuijzerstraat 4, Amsterdam, at exactly 10:00 AM local time on 17 September 2024, in a symbolic ceremony marking the inauguration of the Indonesia House Amsterdam.

The building, which had previously served as the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) since 1967, had remained vacant for nearly five decades after its closure in 1976. Ambassador Mayerfas took on the mission of renovating the building after the Indonesian government decided in 2020 to once again make use of the facility.

Renovation efforts were initially delayed by COVID, but they finally began in July 2021 and were completed by the end of 2022. The building began operations in early 2023.

Retno named the facility 'Indonesia House Amsterdam', abbreviated as IHA. “Indonesia House Amsterdam must truly represent the face of a modern and best Indonesia. It must not be mediocre,” she said, using a Javanese term, "ecek-ecek," meaning 'half-hearted.' Furthermore, she emphasized that the building will serve as a center for promoting Indonesia’s economy and culture in the Netherlands. On a blue marble plaque, Minister Retno inscribed: "This house is a 'bridge' connecting Indonesia, the Netherlands, and Europe."

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Mayerfas explained that the IHA, with a total area of more than 1,400 square meters, is the largest and most comprehensive Indonesian promotion center abroad. Each floor is dedicated to promotion, providing benefits for the Indonesian community and strengthening the relationship between the two countries. “Four years ago, this building was just a pile of old, abandoned bricks. Now, we can see it brought back to life, with a promising and rapidly growing future,” he said.

The Director-General for Culture and Media of the Netherlands, Barbera Wolfensberger, praised the inauguration of Indonesia House Amsterdam and expressed her anticipation for the many upcoming events to be held at the house. More than 70 people attended the inauguration ceremony.

Since 2023, IHA has hosted various events, such as the Trade, Tourism, and Investment Forum (TTI), the Indonesia-Netherlands Start-up Dialogue, the Ulos Batak Exhibition, the Sustainable Batik Fashion Show, and many others. In the coming months, IHA is also proud to present several promotional events, including Indonesia Spice Week Amsterdam and The First Indonesia Medical Wellness Tourism Expo.

After the inauguration, Retno also visited the Indonesian School in The Hague (SIDH) located in Wassenaar to greet the students and teachers there. She claimed to be the first Foreign Minister to visit the school. Furthermore, she expressed a deep and special connection to the Netherlands, both in the past, present, and future. Minister Retno highlighted the importance of education in the success of a country. Her final message to the students was that there are two keys to success: learning and hard work.