Belgian Volunteers Perform Lengger Bule Dance at Baturraden Festival
- 12 Jul 2026 22:26 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- The Festival and Grebeg Suran Baturraden 2026 in Banyumas, Central Java, became a platform for cultural diplomacy involving volunteers from Belgium.
- Twelve Belgian volunteers from Maricolen School in Bruges, consisting of nine students and three teachers, performed the traditional "Lengger Bule" dance.
RRI.CO.ID, Banyumas - The Festival and Grebeg Suran Baturraden 2026 in Banyumas Regency, Central Java, has turned into a compelling stage for cultural diplomacy that captured the hearts of a dozen volunteers from Bruges, Belgium. By performing the Lengger Bule dance and enjoying local tempeh and fried rice, the European students and teachers fell in love with the local community's warmth and the scenic slopes of Mount Slamet.
Coordinator of the Dutch Tileng Foundation (Stichting Tileng), Tekad Santoso, said 12 volunteers from Belgium took part in the performance on Sunday, 12 July 2026. The group, nine students and three teachers, appeared during a volunteer program that included repainting State Elementary School (SDN) 2 Kemutug Lor in Baturraden, Banyumas.
Lengger Bule means the Lengger Dance performed by Westerners. “They came not only to work, but also to travel and learn Banyumas culture,” said Tekad on Sunday, as quoted by Antara.
He said the volunteers became interested in performing the Lengger Dance after learning that the Festival and Grebeg Suran coincided with their visit to Baturraden. The volunteers even prepared as early as 4 a.m. Jakarta time and paid for their own makeup so they could appear as Lengger dancers in the attraction popularly dubbed Lengger Bule.
“They were very enthusiastic. This experience was truly extraordinary because they had never seen, let alone taken part in, an art form like lengger,” he added.
Tekad noted the Tileng Foundation has brought volunteers from Europe since 2017, though the program paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2022–2023.
Besides cultural exchange, the volunteers carry out philanthropic activities in Banyumas. To date, they have helped renovate four elementary schools, build four kindergartens, and establish four early childhood education centers (PAUD).
Tekad said these contributions assist local communities and village administration in improving educational facilities.
The 2026 Festival and Grebeg Suran Baturraden served as a meeting place for local residents and international visitors. The Lengger Bule performance drew particular attention by pairing local dancers with Belgian volunteers.
One volunteer from Belgium, Mieke, said she was impressed by Baturraden’s beauty and the warm hospitality extended to the group.
“Baturraden is very beautiful and the people are very welcoming. We felt such a warm reception. This event is fantastic, we are happy to be part of Indonesian culture and to learn more about its beauty,” she said.
Mieke said the delegation came from Maricolen School in Bruges and consisted of three teachers and nine students. They had been in Baturraden for two weeks and will continue volunteer activities for a total of three weeks.
In addition to social work, she said she enjoyed Indonesian cuisine, naming fried rice, noodles, tempeh, chicken, and various fruits as favorites during her stay in Banyumas. Mieke expressed hope to return to Indonesia to join more volunteer programs and deepen her study of Indonesian culture. ***
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