From 8 November, Museum Sophiahof in The Hague will present the exhibition Lieflijk Indië (Lovely Indies) – a series of poignant portraits of residents and visitors to the residential community of the same name in Haarlem. An exhibition full of memories, traditions and community spirit within the Indonesian community in the Netherlands.

A moving exhibition

Lieflijk Indië portrays 19 residents and visitors, each of whom shares a unique life story. Their stories reflect a generation that found its way through difficult times with resilience and perseverance. The exhibition explores questions such as:

How has history shaped their lives?
Who have they become in the Netherlands?
And which Indonesian traditions, customs and knowledge do they want to pass on to future generations?

Listen to personal stories

Each portrait is accompanied by the voice of the person portrayed. Their words bring the past to life and provide an intimate glimpse into the Indonesian heritage. Let yourself be carried away by their stories of identity, memory and connection.

Book and initiative

The exhibition is based on the book Lieflijk Indië (Lovely Indies), which contains the same portraits and stories. The project is an initiative of the Stichting Indische Ouderen Raad Haarlem (SIOH) – an organisation dedicated to Indonesian elders and anyone who feels connected to Indonesian culture.