An international cultural arts series titled “Wayang On The Street Goes To The Netherlands” is set to take place in the Netherlands from May 14 to 20, 2026. The program features wayang orang (traditional Javanese dance-drama) performances, a Semarangan dance workshop, and the introduction of a newly composed song blending Semarang and Dutch cultural elements.
From May 14 to 17, 2026, four different wayang orang epics will be staged over four consecutive days at Pasar Indonesia Broodfabriek Rijswijk, The Hague. At the same venue, members of the Indonesian diaspora and Dutch locals will also take part in a Semarangan Dance Workshop aimed at introducing the distinctive movements of Central Javanese dance.
In addition, students at the Sekolah Indonesia Den Haag (SIDH – The Hague Indonesian School) will receive special instruction in the song and dance “Selendang Biru” (Blue Shawl). The song, titled Selendang Biru Netherlands, was composed by Sugiyanto, S.Sn., M.Sn., a lecturer in the Music Department of the Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS) at Universitas Negeri Semarang (Unnes). The piece serves as a medium for introducing Indonesian culture with a touch of Dutch melodic influence.
The event is a collaboration between the Kota Lama Festival Foundation, Merby Club, and the Semarang City Government, partnering with Pasar Indonesia in The Hague. An Indonesian artist and composer has been invited to take part as a speaker as well as a music arranger for the series.
“My involvement as an artist, composer, and speaker serves as a cultural bridge between Semarang and the Netherlands. Performing arts can convey messages beyond language barriers,” he said.
The pinnacle of the event will take place on May 20, 2026, at Theater De Klif in Nijmegen, featuring a wayang orang performance of the epic Sang Bima (The Mighty Bima). The same composer is entrusted with creating and arranging the accompanying music. The epic, which narrates Bima’s spiritual journey, is rich in philosophical values of strength, sacrifice, and enlightenment.
The Acting Dean (Plh) of the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Prof. Nur Qudus, expressed high appreciation for the series. According to him, “Wayang On The Street Goes To The Netherlands” is not merely a cultural promotion but also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This activity concretely supports several SDG pillars, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) through the dance and music workshops at the Indonesian School in The Hague. It also supports Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by involving Pasar Indonesia as a creative public space, as well as Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) demonstrated by cross-country and cross-institutional collaboration,” Prof. Nur Qudus said when contacted on Monday (1/6/2026).
Prof. Nur Qudus added that such initiatives should continue to be supported because they turn traditional arts into an inclusive and sustainable instrument of cultural diplomacy. “Hopefully the epic Sang Bima, with its deep moral values, can inspire many parties, not only in the Netherlands but also on the international stage,” he concluded.
