DEPOK – The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Indonesia, H.E. Marc Gerritsen, visited Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) on Friday, October 2, 2026. During the visit, he explored the university’s library and walked through Gedong Tinggi Rumah Tjimanggis, a colonial-era building that stands within the campus complex.

UIII Rector, Prof. Jamhari, welcomed the Ambassador on arrival and showed him around the book collections and the reading areas used by students.

From the library, Ambassador Gerritsen continued to Gedong Tinggi Rumah Tjimanggis, accompanied by UIII and members of Jalan Pagi Sejarah (JAPAS), a community that organises morning walks to historical sites.

The history goes back to the 1770s, though sources differ slightly on the exact construction years. Rumah Tjimanggis, also known as Gedong Tinggi Rumah Tjimanggis, was commissioned by Petrus Albertus van der Parra, the 29th Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Van der Parra died in 1775 before the house was finished, and it is widely recorded as one of the oldest surviving buildings in Depok.

For the Ambassador, the building’s story was also a Dutch one, and he said seeing Indonesia restore it meant a lot to him. “What was really remarkable is to see this house being restored, and it shows the shared heritage that the Netherlands and Indonesia have in such a wonderful relationship.”

The heritage site was only one part of the ties between two sides. UIII and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have cooperated for some time, and Ambassador Gerritsen said they have ‘lots of exchanges’ and that the Netherlands helps with scholarships. One result is a scholarship program that lets women from Afghanistan study at UIII. “We help with scholarships, for instance for girls from Afghanistan who can study here,” he said.

He also pointed to a recent visit by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, who came to the campus to give a lecture and meet students. The Ambassador said he was glad to see international and Indonesian students studying alongside each other. “It is wonderful to see the students work together on making a better world together,”.

Looking ahead, Ambassador Gerritsen said he expected relations between the two countries to stay strong, and he pointed to joint projects and universities such as UIII as the reason. “Our connection is very strong, and thanks to projects like this and thanks to universities like UIII, I really think the future of our relationship is bright,” he stated.