Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A park in the Netherlands will be transformed into a Balinese village this spring, bringing the full spirit of the Island of the Gods to the heart of Europe. The festival will showcase traditional rituals, performing arts, and iconic street food from Bali in an immersive cultural experience.
The Bali Festival will take place from April 27 to May 4, 2025, at Taman Indonesia in Kallenkote. During the eight-day celebration, the park will be redesigned to reflect an authentic Balinese village atmosphere.
The event was initiated by the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague in collaboration with the Bali Abdi Samasta Foundation and the Balinese diaspora community in the Netherlands. Support for the festival also comes from the Bali Provincial Government, Bank Indonesia London, the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Denpasar, and other institutions.
Throughout the week, visitors will be immersed in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Bali. The park will be adorned with traditional Balinese decorations and host a range of cultural performances, hands-on workshops, exhibitions, documentary screenings, and a marketplace featuring Balinese products and cuisine.
Highlights include live demonstrations of the Melaspas temple purification ceremony, traditional dance and gamelan music performances. There would be also cultural workshops where guests can learn to make canang sari flower offerings. Food lovers will have a chance to taste authentic Balinese dishes such as sate lilit, lawar, and sambal matah.
Read Also:
Bali Introduces Stricter Regulations for Foreign Tourists, Here’s the Detail!
The festival will culminate in the inauguration of the first Balinese Hindu temple in the Netherlands, Pura Shanta Citta Bhuwana, on May 3. Built by the Balinese diaspora, the temple is set to become both a spiritual hub and a center for community activities.
The sacred Melaspas and Ngenteg Linggih temple ceremonies will be led by high priest Ida Shri Bhagawan Putra Natha Nawa Wangsa from Bali and attended by Bali Governor I Wayan Koster, Indonesian officials, and members of the local community.
More than just a temporary cultural display in the Netherlands, the transformation of Taman Indonesia into a Balinese village represents a form of cultural diplomacy. It aims to strengthen Indonesia–Netherlands relations while promoting Bali as a global heritage destination.
For the Balinese diaspora, the event is also a moment of empowerment, showcasing their role in preserving and celebrating their cultural identity abroad.
(Raidi/Agung)
