Lange Nacht der Konsulate in Hamburg Showcases Eastern Indonesian Culture

RRI.CO.ID, Hamburg - Indonesia promoted the cultural richness of its eastern regions to audiences in northern Germany during Lange Nacht der Konsulate 2026 in Hamburg on Thursday, April 30, 2026. The event, organized by the Indonesian Consulate General in Hamburg, attracted more than 850 visitors over four hours.

The program featured traditional music, dance, culinary offerings, and cultural presentations from Maluku, North Maluku, and West Nusa Tenggara. A Tenun Tidore weaving workshop drew significant attention, with visitors directly participating in the traditional process.

“This event highlights that Eastern Indonesia is not only historically significant through the spice trade, but also reflects long-standing sustainability practices such as Sasi and holds strong development potential today,” Indonesian Consul General in Hamburg, Renata Siagian said as quoted from the consulate's press release received on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Hamburg State Councillor for Energy, Alexander von Vogel, attended the event and expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s cultural outreach. He also showed interest in Tenun Tidore by participating in the weaving activity.

The exhibition also presented historical narratives, including the story of Markus Mailopu, a Maluku figure involved in scientific expeditions with German researchers. Then, the visitors were introduced to Sasi, a traditional conservation practice, and the historical role of the spice trade in shaping global commerce.

The spice route narrative was highlighted as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between Indonesia and Germany. The eastern region’s natural resources and maritime position were identified as key factors supporting future collaboration.

The consulate plans to hold a Forum on Spices in mid-2026 to promote Indonesian spice trade in Germany. The initiative aims to expand market access and support economic partnerships focused on eastern Indonesia.

The visitors' participation remained high throughout the event and a lot of the visitors attended for the first time to learn about regions beyond Indonesia’s more familiar destinations. Organizers said the strong turnout reflected growing interest in Indonesia’s diverse cultural and economic potential.