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Taman Indonesia in the Netherlands offers taste of the archipelago
Typical Indonesian herbs and spices are set to become even more accessible to people in the Netherlands, with a recently opened greenhouse inside the Taman Indonesia complex in Kallenkote.
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Taman Indonesia, an Indonesian park in the Netherlands, has a spice garden that grows galanga, turmeric, ginger, areca nut and lemongrass. (Shutterstock/File)
T
ypical Indonesian herbs and spices are set to become even more accessible to people in the Netherlands, with a recently opened greenhouse inside the Taman Indonesia complex in Kallenkote. The greenhouse is a designated garden area where kencur (galanga), turmeric, ginger, areca nut and lemongrass are grown.
"The spice garden greenhouse further adds to the attractiveness of Taman Indonesia, which has various flora and fauna typical of the archipelago, such as the cockatoo, black-winged starling, padda, civet, tiger cat and koi fish," Indonesian Embassy Minister Counsellor Ourina Ritonga said as quoted by Antara news agency on Monday.
Taman Indonesia is located in Overijssel province, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Amsterdam.
In addition to the zoo and gardens, the complex also boasts an Indonesian restaurant, where traditional Indonesian products are also available, such as coffee, ginger tea, clove cigarettes and handicrafts. A becak (pedicab) is also on display.
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A set of gamelan from Java is also on display at the park, as well as indigenous houses from Java, Bali, Madura and Ternate, which are maintained by Marlisa Wareman, a Dutch citizen of Indonesian descent.
The opening of the spice garden also marks the beginning of further additions to the complex, such as a Balinese lingga [phallus] and yoni statue for a temple development plan for Hindus.
Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, who attended the opening of the spice garden, also welcomed the lingga and yoni placements, expressing hope that the development of the temple would enrich the harmony in the park and in the Netherlands in general, as well as draw the Dutch community closer to Indonesia.
The park could be a stepping-stone destination for potential tourists to Indonesia, he said.
According to the embassy, the park has become a popular family destination, with as many as 50,000 thousand visitors visiting during the 2016 summer from July to September. (liz/asw)
