August 18, 2025 | 04:24 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The courtyard of the Indonesian School Den Haag (SIDH) was filled with thousands of Indonesian citizens on Sunday morning, August 17, 2025. More than 3,600 people attended the ceremony commemorating Indonesia's 80th Independence Day.
The Ceremony at SIDH Courtyard
According to the press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Den Haag (KBRI) received by Tempo, the ceremony began at 10:00 local time with the Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mayerfas, acting as the ceremony inspector. Colonel Cpm Ade San Arief also led the ceremony as the commander.
The Red and White (Indonesian flag) was raised by the Flag Raising Troop consisting of ten high school students. The troop commander was Oeray Alvaro Waradana Putra Gufran, while the flag bearer was Hana Anindita Irawan. Intensive training since July 15, 2025, was carried out by a joint team of the Defense Attache, Army Attache, and Immigration Attache of KBRI Den Haag.
The participants also wore traditional Nusantara attire and batik. The ceremony concluded with the playing of national songs, accompanied by a sea of small red and white flags raised by the participants.
Presence of a Soccer Figure
This year's celebration felt different as it was attended by soccer figures, including the Indonesian National Team Coach Patrick Kluivert, along with Alex Pastoor and Denny Landzaat. Two players from the Indonesian Women's National Team, Claudia Alexandra Scheunemann and Keysha Bulgami, also attended the Independence Day celebration.
In the thanksgiving procession, Ambassador Mayerfas presented a portion of tumpeng (cone-shaped rice dish) to six recipients of the 2025 Ambassador's Award, including Kluivert and Scheunemann. The people enthusiastically welcomed their presence.
People's Stage and August 17 Competition
After the ceremony, the atmosphere became livelier with the Joyful Stage, culinary bazaar, and traditional August 17 competitions. Various foods such as satay, rendang, meatballs, pempek, and es teler were the main dishes.
The entertainment stage featured pop music, suling kecapi (bamboo flute), the SIDH student band, regional dances, and dangdut music. The festive atmosphere in Den Haag was enhanced by group dancing and a flash mob of Tabola Bole performed by the KBRI Women's Association, Paskibra, and visitors.
Children even had a special space for drawing, coloring, and creating handicrafts. In Den Haag, visitors' favorite activities remained eating crackers, jumping on rubber bands, and filling bottles with water.
Ambassador Mayerfas and his wife, Virna Mayerfas, joined in celebrating the independence moments. "This celebration is not just to commemorate the struggle of the heroes, but also to strengthen the brotherhood of fellow countrymen abroad," said Mayerfas. Patrick Kluivert also conveyed his congratulations on Indonesia's 80th Independence Day.
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