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.