KUCHING: The ‘Treasures of Nusantara’ exhibition marks the official return of 412 artefacts from Museum Nusantara in Delft, the Netherlands to Kuching. According to Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth, and Sports, Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the exhibition is an example of museums working together for the benefit of its visitors and a worldwide shared heritage.
“I would like to express my appreciation to the members of Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS) in ensuring that this collection of century-old artefacts found their way back home to the state of Sarawak,” said Karim during the exhibition launch held at the auditorium at the Old Court House here yesterday.
“Our state is filled to the brim with richness of diversity and culture and its people are filled with pride. When there was news of Museum Nusantara in Delft and Bornean artefacts overseas looking for new guardians, it was imperative and our responsibility to answer that call and retrieve those important objects of the past,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands Deputy Ambassador to Malaysia, Christoph Prommersberger, who was also present, said that in the Netherlands, Malay and Indonesian Archipelago are referred to as Nusantara, hence the name of the museum.
“Museum Nusantara in the city of Delft in the Netherlands, where this collection comes from, started as a collection of museum objects which were brought home by civil servants stationed and working in Dutch Indonesia in the 19th and early 20th century.
“I feel honoured to be in Kuching today and take part of bringing these artefacts back to where they come from,” said Prommersberger, who was also representing the ambassador, Karin Mössenlechner. The ‘Treasures of Nusantara’ exhibition is now open to the public and is located at the Textile Museum nearby the Old Court House. It is open from 9am to 4.45pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm on weekends and public holidays.
