Past and present: Jaran Kepang captures members of the Javanese community in the Netherlands performing a traditional performance with mask and costume. Isabelle TolhurstLast Thursday’s book and exhibition opening entitled “Migration and cultural heritage: Stories of Javanese in Suriname, Indonesia and The Netherlands” was more than just a fleeting presentation of research and cultural artefacts.

The evening at Erasmus Huis provided an insight to over 150 years of history on Javanese migration, a detailed explanation of cultural heritage and identity, and for some, a little lesson in geography as well. Though a small nation, and one that rarely features in global headlines, Suriname, in northern South America, sits atop its giant neighbor Brazil and is cushioned neatly between Guyana and French Guiana. More importantly however, it has also been the site of much Dutch and Ja...