Heritage Corner

Inilah suasana Tropen Museum pada hari Minggu sore, 17 Januari 2010. Ramai dengan anak-anak yang bermain, menyalurkan kreativitas melalui workshop, orang dewasa yang mempelajari kebudayaan dari berbagai negara dan apapun yang ditawarkan museum ini. Di Amsterdam ada dua mall yang buka pada hari Minggu dan ramai dikunjungi orang, tetapi museum juga buka dan sama ramainya dengan mall-mall itu. Mudah-mudahan anak-anak dan orang dewasa di Indonesia juga mempunyai pilihan itu, mau ke mall atau ke museum?

On Sunday, 17 January, I joined a tour inside the Royal Tropical Institute (or KIT) in Amsterdam. I have been here many times and saw the name of Tjong A Fie and the Deli Maatschappij whom I am familiar with on the wall. They are with many others donated some money to build this building. Knowing that Tjong A Fie and the Deli Maatschappij played important roles in the history of Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, I felt a kind of proximity with this building. It gives a mixed feeling. Aftel all the distances, in this beautiful landmark of Amsterdam, I am surrounded by a legacy of Sumatra's history. To quote from the website of the KIT : KIT was founded in 1910 as the ‘Colonial Institute’ to study the tropics and to promote trade and industry in the (at that time) colonial territories of the Netherlands. It was founded on the initiative of a number of large companies, with government support, making it an early example of a public-private partnership. Since 1926, KIT has been housed ...

Manneken Pis (Dutch for little man urinating ), also known in French as the petit Julien, is a famous Brussels landmark . It is a small bronze fountain sculpture depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. It was designed by Jerome Duquesnoy and put in place in 1618 or 1619. Again, an example how to promote biking in the city centre. When does Jakarta follow this initiative? With clear signages, bikers and tourists can explore the city easily (and healthier because they walk or bike) Although after biking or walking for hours, waffle and chocolate are irresistable.

Sebagai orang Indonesia, melihat patung Jan-Pieterszoon Coen di kota kelahirannya, Hoorn, Belanda bagian utara, mau tidak mau jadi ingat pelajaran sejarah Hindia-Belanda. Oh jadi ini wajah sang gubernur jenderal yang dikenal oleh semua anak sekolah dasar di Indonesia itu. Jan Pieterszoon Coen (1587-1629) lahir di Hoorn, Gubernur Jenderal VOC dan pendiri Batavia yang sekarang bernama Jakarta. Patung ini diresmikan tahun 1893. (selebihnya cerita tentang alun-alun tempat patung ini berada.)

Cosmopolitan Chicken Project is the work of Belgian artist, Koen Vanmechelen. This art work takes place in the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam. He wants to develop a super-hybrid chicken. Enjoy....

The Principal 2009 Prince Claus Award goes to Simón Vélez, an architect from Colombia who promotes bamboo through his works. On Wednesday he received the Award from Prince Constantijn, one of the son of Prince Claus and Queen Beatrix, in the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam. Simón Vélez has been doing an amazing works with bamboo and it doesn't look like "the wood for the poor" anymore in his hands as he called it. Check it out his works through this link . The Queen Beatrix and her three sons and three daughters in-law were presence and many dignitaries from all over the world. Other thing which I want to share is my impression of the philosophy of Prince Claus Fund that Culture is a Basic Need. For someone who tries to raise awareness that development is not merely about materials, I do appreciate this statement. The Minister of Cooperation with Developing Countries, Bert Koenders. Simón Vélez Decorations in the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ symbolized bamboo and pu...

Most people don't want to miss this famous "fritkot" (French fries) when they visit Antwerpen in Belgium. Don't mind with a long queue in winter. . Or for famous pastries with the famous Belgian chocolates..... And don't miss the Belgian wafels, fresh from oven. Public telephone as street furniture. Stylish designed. They didn't forget to give a credit to the designers. Not everything old and grey in Antwerpen. There are shops who sell chic and colourful stuff. They are beautiful, creative and relatively expensive. On 30 August 2009 Church Sint-Carolus Borromeus was in fire. Many volunteers in Antwerpen tried to stop the fire and they managed to limit it only to some parts of the Church. It open again to public in September but the restauration is still going on until 2010. Cathedral in Antwerpen Showing paintings of the famous Belgian painter, Peter Paul Rubens Sign of protected monuments Hidden treasures of Antwerpen with old and beautiful houses on the...