Mayor visits Moluccan Senior Home in Moordrecht

This spring marks 65 years since Moordrecht welcomed its first residents to the Moluccan district. That was a decade after their arrival in the Netherlands, an event that is also being commemorated nationwide this year. It was late August 1961 when the last residents moved into their homes in the Moluccan district. For this reason, the Moluccan community in Moordrecht will be extensively celebrating the 65th anniversary of the district this summer.

Mayor Han Weber: “I look forward to the anniversary activities to mark this milestone together with generations of Moluccan residents. On Friday, March 20, I was a guest at the Moluccan Senior Home, where we recalled memories from 65 years ago. This home and its residents represent a wonderful initiative that will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year and serves as an example for similar initiatives elsewhere in the Netherlands.”

At the Moluccan senior home in Moordrecht, a warm and familiar atmosphere prevails every week. Under the inspiring leadership of Aunt Joke, Moluccan seniors gather here—not just for companionship, but above all as a place where they find each other, understand one another, and support one another. For many, it is an important anchor against loneliness: a place where stories are shared, memories remain alive, and where Moluccan culture is tangibly present.

Mayor Weber’s visit to the Moluccan Home

During these gatherings, seniors who originally arrived by the first ship to the Netherlands also join in—a journey that began about 75 years ago, when Moluccan KNIL soldiers and their families were brought to the Netherlands following Indonesia’s independence. That history is not an abstract tale here; it lives on in the people themselves. Their experiences, often marked by uncertainty and loss, are still shared and passed down to the next generations.

Aunt Joke welcomed Mayor Weber with open arms. As is customary in Moluccan tradition, this was accompanied by warmth, attention, and, of course, delicious food. Together with her team, she had prepared an extensive meal, which was shared with visible enjoyment. During the gathering, she recounted how, in the early years, the children of the first generation of Moluccans often acted as interpreters for their parents, who did not yet speak Dutch. These are stories that illustrate how resilient and close-knit the community has always been.

Mayor Weber expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and forged a special personal connection. He shared that his father had arrived in the Netherlands on the same ship from Indonesia after the police actions. Due to an outbreak of smallpox on board, all passengers had to be quarantined, including in Camp Vught. With this story, he bridged the history of the Moluccan community in Moordrecht and underscored the shared experiences of arrival, adaptation, and perseverance.

The Moluccan senior home is thus more than just a meeting place—it is a living monument to history, connection, and mutual care. With the prospect of the home celebrating its 20th anniversary next year and the 65th anniversary of the Moluccan district in Moordrecht being marked this summer, there is every reason to reflect on the strength and significance of this special community.