Rotterdam museum lends puppets

Rotterdam museum lends puppets

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Wereldmuseum of Rotterdam in the Netherlands has agreed to
lend collection of "Wayang Revolusi" shadow puppets to city-owned
Museum Wayang under a long-term agreement.

The collection will be handed over by Rotterdam Mayor
Opstelten sometime during his visit from August 13 to 21 August
to the Jakarta administration.

"It (the collection) will be exhibited in a new wing of the
Wayang Museum," said spokeswoman with the Netherlands Embassy,
Usha Gopie, in a statement.

"This cooperation will lead, in the future, to a marketing
strategy that puts the (Wayang) Museum and the surrounding area
on the tourist map," she said.

Wayang Revolusi is a unique collection of shadow puppets
representing Indonesia's struggle for independence.

The country will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its
proclamation of independence on August 17.

Gopie said that the mayor's visit was at the invitation of the
administration after Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo visited
Rotterdam previously in April.

"On that occasion, the new cooperation agreement 2005-2007 was
signed, including the hand-over of the collection of Wayang
Revolusi," she added.

Rotterdam has become a close sister city of Jakarta since
1986.

"Jakarta is an important sister city, with which Rotterdam
enjoys an excellent relationship," the Mayor said in a statement.

He also underlined that Jakarta also offers good opportunities
for the Rotterdam business community, adding that the port of
Rotterdam also offers to Jakarta residents "a gateway to Europe."

During the visit, he would also attend official national
ceremonies here and lay a wreath at the Dutch military cemetery
at Menteng Pulo, Central Jakarta.