The Landelijk Moluks Monument foundation and the Moluks Historisch Museum foundation are together forming the commemoration committee Van Ver Gekomen to organise a national commemoration at the Lloydkade in Rotterdam every year from 21 March 2022. In this way the crossing of some 12,500 Moluccans, mainly former KNIL soldiers, navy men and their families, who docked in both Rotterdam and Amsterdam on twelve ship transports, will be marked.
A national monument in 2022
The two initiators of the commemoration committee are actively involved in the current commemorative year '70 years of Moluccans in the Netherlands' and have therefore been working closely together since December 2020. The Landelijk Moluks Monument foundation has set itself the goal of realising a national monument at the Lloydkade in Rotterdam and is raising money for that purpose through donations. "The initiative is widely supported and the willingness to donate to this cause is great. The municipality of Rotterdam is enthusiastic too and is cooperating. That we are now going to organise an annual commemoration carried by the community exceeds all expectations," says Yordi Tahamata, chairman of the Landelijk Moluks Monument foundation.
The Moluks Historisch Museum foundation has declared 2021 a commemorative year and has been trying since 21 March to make as many stories, talents and initiatives from the Moluccan community as possible available to a wider public. Examples are the temporary exhibition IKAT at Sophiahof and the BETA DISINI livestreams.
The commemorative year already a great success
The Moluks Historisch Museum has taken on the role of coordinator for the many years of voluntary activities during this commemorative year. Museum director Henry Timisela: "Wherever we could, we tried to bring people into contact with one another. That ranges from questions about the monumental status of the graves of the 1st generation to artists offering to exhibit their work in our museum. But also people who did not know exactly where the boats docked at the time and went looking for information themselves. They end up with us. In any case, we can already look back on a fantastic commemorative year." Timisela continues: "We are organising two more BETA DISINI livestreams and then the commemorative year is over."
Historic events, not yet marked
Little can now be seen of the historic events that took place in Rotterdam and Amsterdam 70 years ago. This year too, between 21 March and 20 June, people visited the quays in the port city and the capital en masse to mark the crossing to the Netherlands of some 12,500 Moluccans, mainly former KNIL soldiers, navy men and their families, on twelve ship transports. A crossing for a stay that was thought at the time to be temporary. People often visited the quay on the day their own family arrived.
Together we are stronger
The committee for the annual national commemoration also acts as a partner for various voluntary activities, particularly in the municipalities where many Moluccans live. Kaja Sariwating, chair of the board of the Moluks Historisch Museum, says: "From the museum we have tried this year to involve as many people as possible in our activities. And that can be done much better. The Moluccan community has various networks, organisations and neighbourhoods. To make the commemoration a success we really need those networks. So we will involve them in the activities. That is already becoming concrete as we work together with a local working group for a memorial at the Javakade in Amsterdam."
Statement about other activities
Lately we have received many questions about De Reizende Tentoonstelling and the Moluccan Commemoration of 70 years in the Netherlands, also known as 'Hernieuwde Aankomst', by Media Luna.
As the boards of the Landelijk Moluks Monument and the Moluks Historisch Museum, we want to provide clarity in this way to our donors, partners, municipalities, acquaintances and friends and make clear that we are in no way involved in the activities of De Reizende Tentoonstelling and the Moluccan Commemoration on 7 October by Media Luna. That is entirely separate from us as an organisation and from our efforts to realise a National Moluccan Monument. Our two foundations are not contributing to the above-mentioned projects, because they do not do justice to the historical context and the community has been insufficiently involved.
That does not alter the fact that we consider it important that there are initiatives telling the Moluccan story. We even welcome it. The LMM and MHM foundations do so as partners, following the joint course set in December 2020.
