In the East Java capital of Surabaya — dubbed the City of Heroes in honor of the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to defend the country’s independence against the Dutch-led Allies following Japan’s defeat in World War II — the history of the city’s great eponymous battle is not just being told in history books.

In 2010, Ady Setyawan, the grandson of an Indonesian soldier in the battle, and his friend Bagus Kamajaya set up Roode Brug Soerabaia – a community organization that inspires young people to appreciate the heroic legacy of Surabaya.

Together, they have introduced a fun way to learn war history.

“We wear old military uniforms, carry old weapons and reenact the battle. Then we upload pictures and videos to social media accounts to make the history popular among young people,” Ady said.

Roode Brug Soerabaia, which has around 50 members, is also involved in the peace and reconciliation campaign between Indonesian and Dutch veterans.

The community’s activities have brought Ady to meet Dutch veterans and their children and grandchildren.

Dutch photographer Marjolein van Pagee was one of them. She came a long way to Indonesia to learn about the history of the war after finding an old portrait of her grandfather.

She said she found out her grandfather had been sent to join the military in Indonesia at that time.

“He joined the marines in Surabaya. I photographed some of the Dutch veterans who were in his group and wrote their stories down. I visited Indonesian veterans too. In the Netherlands, we don’t know much about them,” van Pagee said.

But she had never heard about the Battle of Surabaya before she visited Indonesia.

“When I knew about that, I was shocked and couldn’t believe that I had never heard about such an important battle,” she said.

“I can imagine how meaningful it is for Indonesian fighters. It was a life-changing event for everybody, both Indonesian and Dutch.”

Dutch blogger Max van Der Werff, whose father was a veteran, said that in the Netherlands they mostly heard about the Dutch victims of the war.

“That thousands of Indonesians died during the British bombing raids, we never hear anything about that,” said van Der Werff, who has came to Indonesia several times to learn more about Indonesian-Dutch war history.

In the East Java capital of Surabaya '€” dubbed the City of Heroes in honor of the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to defend the country'€™s independence against the Dutch-led Allies following Japan'€™s defeat in World War II '€” the history of the city'€™s great eponymous battle is not just being told in history books.

In 2010, Ady Setyawan, the grandson of an Indonesian soldier in the battle, and his friend Bagus Kamajaya set up Roode Brug Soerabaia '€“ a community organization that inspires young people to appreciate the heroic legacy of Surabaya.

Together, they have introduced a fun way to learn war history.

'€œWe wear old military uniforms, carry old weapons and reenact the battle. Then we upload pictures and videos to social media accounts to make the history popular among young people,'€ Ady said.

Roode Brug Soerabaia, which has around 50 members, is also involved in the peace and reconciliation campaign between Indonesian and Dutch veterans.

The community'€™s activities have brought Ady to meet Dutch veterans and their children and grandchildren.

Dutch photographer Marjolein van Pagee was one of them. She came a long way to Indonesia to learn about the history of the war after finding an old portrait of her grandfather.

She said she found out her grandfather had been sent to join the military in Indonesia at that time.

'€œHe joined the marines in Surabaya. I photographed some of the Dutch veterans who were in his group and wrote their stories down. I visited Indonesian veterans too. In the Netherlands, we don'€™t know much about them,'€ van Pagee said.

But she had never heard about the Battle of Surabaya before she visited Indonesia.

'€œWhen I knew about that, I was shocked and couldn'€™t believe that I had never heard about such an important battle,'€ she said.

'€œI can imagine how meaningful it is for Indonesian fighters. It was a life-changing event for everybody, both Indonesian and Dutch.'€

Dutch blogger Max van Der Werff, whose father was a veteran, said that in the Netherlands they mostly heard about the Dutch victims of the war.

'€œThat thousands of Indonesians died during the British bombing raids, we never hear anything about that,'€ said van Der Werff, who has came to Indonesia several times to learn more about Indonesian-Dutch war history.