Indonesia comes to the Netherlands as Europe’s first Balinese temple opens near Amsterdam

Constructed using materials brought directly from the Indonesian island, the temple was fully funded by the local Balinese community

The first Balinese Hindu temple in Europe has formally opened in the Netherlands, a move that symbolises cooperation between the two regions and aims to encourage tourism to the Indonesian island.

The Santa Citta Bhuwana Temple – located within Overijssel province’s Taman Indonesia, a zoological garden some 125km (78 miles) northeast of Amsterdam – offers a gateway to the island’s traditions for both its diaspora and a wider European audience.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster, who attended the formal opening ceremony on Saturday, personally brought the ceremonial items needed for the temple’s purification ceremony, according to The Bali Sun.

The inauguration coincided with Hari Raya Kuningan, an auspicious day on the Balinese calendar when ancestors are believed to ascend back to the heavens after 10 days on earth, and saw a large turnout.

Koster expressed hope that the temple would become a vital spot “not only for the sake of holidays but as a means of gathering to develop a sense of family and togetherness among the Balinese people”.

The Netherlands is home to a large Indonesian community, a legacy of the Southeast Asian country’s long history as a former Dutch colony.

Some calculations estimate that over a million of the country’s 18 million people have Indonesian heritage.

Constructed using materials brought directly from Bali, the temple was fully funded by the local Balinese community, including some of around 250 Balinese Hindu people who now live in Overijssel.

The Indonesian Embassy in the Netherlands and the Bali provincial government also supported the project, the Indonesia National Police reported.

Also at the ceremony were Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands H.E. Mayerfas and his family. “The desire to build this temple has been around for a long time, but it could only be realised starting in 2023.” he told reporters.

Made Aniadi, head of the foundation that oversees the temple, said that it was open to everyone.

“Non-Hindu people are also welcome,” she said, according to The Bali Sun.

“The rules are the same [as in Bali]. If you come with your family, the whole family must wear Balinese traditional clothing.”

The move to share Balinese culture internationally comes as Governor Koster focuses on preserving the island’s traditions amid growing tourism, including ordering a cultural census and mandating traditional attire for students and government staff on certain days.

The popular holiday island welcomed a record 6.3 million foreign tourists in 2024, marking a nearly 20 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

Balinese leaders have set a target for 6.5 million visitors this year, according to local media reports.