The official reopening of Erasmus Huis took place on Nov. 22, featuring performances from pianist Ananda Sukarlan and Gigi Art of Dance for VIP guests. It was scheduled to reopen for the public the day after.

Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Rob Swartbol said the impetus behind the renovation project was the change in diplomacy and society, which translated to a need to modernize the embassy and Erasmus Huis.

“We started with a small group discussing how we’d do it; what’s our vision, mission, what are our core values. We want to create an atmosphere where we show energy, transparency, openness and the venues [the embassy and Erasmus Huis] should show those core values,” Swartbol said.

The Erasmus Huis renovation process, which is also part of a wider plan that includes the Dutch Embassy, features an extensive remodeling of the library, auditorium and gallery.

Frequent visitors of the old Erasmus Huis will immediately notice the gallery’s vastly larger space once they step into it. The gallery now also has several windows, making the room feel even more open than it used to be.

Erasmus Huis director Michael Rauner said there was less flexibility with the previous exhibition room as it was darker and had no windows.

“Sometimes, we had to split up [the exhibitions] downstairs and upstairs. It’s not light, inviting, so the challenge was to make this room a little bit more open. We decided to demolish the wall and the offices behind so that you have an open space,” Rauner explained during a press tour of the building.

Going up the stairs to the auditorium, visitors can see a wall mural depicting the places that the namesake of the building, philosopher Desiderius Erasmus, had lived in, from his birthplace of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to where he died in Basel, Switzerland.

The second floor is home to the revamped auditorium, which now can seat 350 guests. As the auditorium’s acoustics have been improved, musical performances will benefit greatly from the renovation, as exemplified by Ananda Sukarlan’s performance during the reception.

As the main gallery space on the ground floor is dedicated to exhibitions, the second floor foyer is now a multifunctional room that has been updated with a fresh coat of paint on every surface, making it much lighter and in tune with the rest of the rooms.

Perhaps the most noticeable difference in the new Erasmus Huis building is the library, which has been modernized to a high degree. Gone is the staid, dark wooden decor, which has been replaced with a more contemporary design that feels much more open and in line with the design of the building.

Stepping out into the smoking area outside the library, visitors can purchase food from organic plant-based eatery Burgreens, which has been selected as Erasmus Huis’ new food and beverage partner. This particular branch has been modified to include Dutch dishes.

Erasmus Huis manager Joyce Nijssen said the interior of the building was designed by a Dutch interior designer, heavily featuring Dutch design products to promote the country’s design scene.

Along with revamped spaces, Erasmus Huis will also turn its focus to programs to attract younger visitors. Upcoming events at Erasmus Huis include The New Dutch classical music performance on Nov. 27, dance company De Stilte’s Flying Cow for children aged 4 years and up on Jan. 12 and the Droog Design Exhibition, which ends on Feb. 21.

Nijssen said the focus at Erasmus Huis for the younger generation was to be able to promote the Netherlands, as opposed to the older generation, which might be more familiar with Dutch culture.

He added that part of the plan to attract a younger audience was to invite younger artists for their programs.

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