Ereveld Candi

05/10/2025

After the Second World War, there were originally 22 erevelden spread across Indonesia.

At the request of the Indonesian government in the 1960s, this number was reduced to 12 war cemeteries, and later consolidated again to the 7 erevelden that remain today, all located on the island of Java.

This process ensured that the graves could be properly maintained and that the memory of the war victims would be preserved in places that remain accessible for families and future generations.

Ereveld Candi became one of these seven cemeteries.
It has seen the reburial of war victims from Palembang (1967) and Makassar (1968).

If you have family members or friends who may have been buried or relocated from these earlier cemeteries, and you are not sure where they now rest, you can search for them in our online database: https://oorlogsgravenstichting.nl/zoeken .

01/10/2025

A new series begins on our page 🌿

Going forward, we will be sharing a special series of posts filled with stories, facts, and insights about the ereveld, the war cemeteries that carry so many memories and histories.

Before we start, we would love to hear from you:
What questions have you always had about the ereveld?
Perhaps about its history, who is laid to rest here, or how to visit?

Please share your questions in the comments 👇
In the weeks ahead, we will share new stories, highlight and explore them one by one.

Together, let us remember the past, reflect in the present, and preserve the hope of a peaceful future. 🕊

13/06/2025

🌿 You're Invited: Launch of the OGS Indonesia Website

We are honoured to invite you to the launch of the new OGS Indonesia website, a platform dedicated to the seven Netherlands war cemeteries (erevelden) in Indonesia, where thousands of war victims are laid to rest.

This website has been developed with care and thoughtfulness. It provides reliable, bilingual information about each erevelden and helps visitors understand their historical significance and the symbols found within them. While it does not yet share the stories of every grave, it is a meaningful step towards making these sites more accessible, especially for those in Indonesia and abroad who continue to visit and reflect.

📅 Thursday, 19 June 2025
🕒 15.00–16.00 WIB (10.00–11.00 CEST)
📍 Join us online via Zoom
🎫 Register here: https://bit.ly/OGSIndonesia-website
🔗 A Zoom link will be provided after registration and email reminder will be sent.

This website is part of our ongoing effort to honour those who came before us, not only with remembrance, but with purpose. By learning about the impact of war, we are reminded why peace, understanding, and dialogue remain so important today.

We would be truly grateful for your presence as we mark this meaningful milestone together.

11/06/2025

💐Important Announcement: Temporary Closure of Ereveld Candi💐

Dear families, friends, and visitors,

We would like to inform you that Ereveld Candi will be temporarily closed from 13 to 19 June 2025 due to essential asbestos removal work. We warmly welcome you to return from 20 June 2025, although please note that some areas may remain restricted while safety measures continue to be in place.

The safety and wellbeing of our visitors and dedicated staff are of utmost importance. Ereveld Candi is a meaningful place of remembrance, reflection, and shared history. This temporary closure is a necessary step to ensure that the site remains a safe and respectful space for all who come to honour their loved ones.

We truly understand how important these visits are, and our team is committed to completing this work as efficiently as possible while prioritising everyone's health and safety.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to welcoming you back to Ereveld Candi once this essential work is completed.

With warm regards,
OGS Indonesia and the Ereveld Candi Team

08/08/2024

We stand on sacred ground, where courage and sacrifice have left an indelible mark.

This year, for the first time ever, we will be holding a commemoration ceremony at Ereveld Candi in Semarang as we mark the Cessation of the Second World War in Asia on the 15th of August 2024.

Join us for the wreath-laying ceremony:
Ereveld Candi: 7:00-7:25 AM

While this will be an intimate event, we welcome everyone to join us. For a larger and more significant commemoration, please visit Ereveld Kalibanteng, where we will have a special performance by the International Relations students from UNDIP.

This is the second year we are rotating the commemoration sites, a special gesture of dedication to honouring the memory of those who rest in these hallowed grounds. We are honored to welcome Netherlands Defense Attaché Norbert Moerkens as we pay tribute to those who gave their all for a better future. 🌹

This poignant act honours the lives given in pursuit of a brighter future – a future we cherish today. As we remember these war victims, we invite you to join us in spirit and in person, reflecting on their lasting legacy.

Their memory lives on, inspiring us to continue building bridges of peace and understanding. Let’s remember, respect, and recommit to the ideals of peace that unite us all.

On Thursday 15 August 2024 we will commemorate the cessation* of the Second World War in Asia.

We invite you to ceremonies with speeches and wreath laying in Semarang, Surabaya, and Jakarta.

This year a special melati flower wreath made of a 1000 handmade melati’s by volunteers in the Netherlands will be laid at Ereveld Menteng Pulo in Jakarta.

Ceremonies are in English and open to all. For more information: bit.ly/EKN-ERV15AUG24 (link on bio) or go to our website.

(Please note that video recordings will be made for the broadcasting of the National 15th of August Commemoration in the Netherlands)

*The formal end of the Second World War was concluded with the Surrender Ceremony on the USS Missouri on 2 September 1945.

13/09/2023

Today, on behalf of the Oorlogsgravenstichting, the Opzichter of Ereveld Candi, Vincentius Agus Santoso, laid a wreath near the Cross Monument, a symbol of respect and remembrance for the fallen war victims.

This small commemoration, marking the end of the Second World War in Asia, carries immense significance. It's a reminder of the sacrifices made and the hardships endured, and it underscores the importance of never forgetting our history.

Commemorating the end of World War II in Asia is not just about looking back; it's about looking forward. It's about acknowledging the lessons we've learned and the resilience of the human spirit. It's about reaffirming our commitment to peace, unity, and understanding.

In a world where divisions can sometimes seem insurmountable, this commemoration bridges gaps and brings us together. It reminds us that, regardless of our backgrounds or borders, we share a common humanity and a shared history.

As we lay wreaths and pay our respects, we're not just honouring the past; we're shaping our future. A future built on the foundations of peace, compassion, and the unwavering belief that, together, we can create a better world.

08/08/2023

We stand on sacred ground, where courage and sacrifice have left an indelible mark. 🇳🇱

As we mark the Cessation of the Second World War, a commemoration will take place at Ereveld Menteng Pulo in Jakarta and Ereveld Kembang Kuning in Surabaya. In addition, wreaths will be reverently laid at Ereveld Ancol, Pandu, Leuwigajah, Kalibanteng, and Candi.

A notable change this year is the Netherlands Embassy's decision to rotate its presence between the Erevelden of Ancol, Pandu, Leuwigajah, Kalibanteng, Candi, and Kembang Kuning. This shift underlines the dedication to honouring the memory of those who rest in these hallowed grounds

With this decision, we await the presence of the Netherlands Embassy at Ereveld Candi in the upcoming years. While we anticipate those times, this year, our respect remains unwavering as we lay a wreath in honour.

This poignant act pays tribute to the lives given in pursuit of a brighter future – a future we cherish today. As we honour these war victims, we invite you to join us in spirit, reflecting on the profound impact their bravery has had on our world.

Their memory lives on, inspiring us to continue building bridges of peace and understanding. Let's remember, respect, and recommit to the ideals of peace that unite us all.

A Commemoration of the Cessation of the Second World War at the Netherlands War Cemeteries in Jakarta and Surabaya 🇳🇱

On Tuesday 15 August 2023 we will commemorate the cessation* of the Second World War in Asia. We invite you to ceremonies in Jakarta and Surabaya.

We welcome you at Ereveld Menteng Pulo in Jakarta at 04:30 PM. The official program will start at 05:00 PM and will include speeches followed by a wreath-laying ceremony.

Next to the commemoration at Menteng Pulo (Jakarta), starting this year, the Netherlands Embassy will rotate its presence between the Erevelden of Ancol, Pandu, Leuwigajah, Kalibanteng, Candi and Kembang Kuning. This year, Netherlands Defense Attaché Norbert Moerkens will attend a wreath laying ceremony at Ereveld Ancol in Jakarta.

Ceremonies are in English and open to all.

For more information: bit.ly/EKN-15AGS23 (link on bio)

*The formal end of the Second World War was concluded with the Surrender Ceremony on the USS Missouri on 2 September 1945.





Photo credit:

03/08/2023

🌺 Embracing Remembrance with Love and Care 🕊️

As the 15th of August Nationale Herdenking draws near, our hearts are filled with profound reverence and compassion as we prepare the hallowed grounds of the Ereveld.

We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the families who have kindly ordered flowers for this solemn occasion. We hold each family in our hearts during this time of remembrance.

The Ereveld is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. As we meticulously tend to this hallowed ground, we recognize that each name etched on these stones tells a unique story - one of bravery, sacrifice, and resilience.

This month, our commitment to caring for the Ereveld is infused with an even deeper sense of purpose. Beyond preserving history, we seek to carry the lessons from the past, both inspiring and cautionary, to guide us in shaping a future filled with compassion and understanding.

As we come together on the 15th of August, we shall lay a wreath as a symbol of eternal remembrance for all who rest here. Let us unite our hearts in reflection, cherishing the memories and using them as inspiration to bring about positive changes and make an impact that paves the way for a future filled with peace.

09/11/2022

Paying tribute to our partners of many years, Bersukaria Tour, whose excellent guides never fail to tell the story of Ereveld Candi and Ereveld Kalibanteng and the war victims who lie buried there.

Fauzan, it's been an honour and pleasure to welcome you, the Bersukaria team and your guests at the war cemeteries again and again. Thank you for helping us keep the stories alive, so that we may learn from the past and contribute to a better future for all.

16/08/2022

Lest we forget ...

At the 7 Netherlands war cemeteries, commemorations took place yesterday to mark the cessation of WWII in Asia and particularly Indonesia.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands held a large international commemoration at Ereveld Menteng Pulo, attended amongst others by the Defence Attachés of Australia, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
The Netherlands Honorary Consul in Surabaya led a commemoration service at Ereveld Kembang Kuning in Surabaya.

This year, we were also very happy to welcome commemoration services at the initiative of young Indonesians.
The Committee of Joint Commemoration Indonesia - Netherlands (KPB BelIndo) held a large service with around 100 guests at Ereveld Pandu in Bandung.
In addition, young players of local football club SSB Terang Bangsa laid flowers at Ereveld Kalibanteng in Semarang.

Wreaths were laid at all war cemeteries on behalf of the Netherlands Foundation Nationale Herdenking 15 Augustus 1945 as well as the Netherlands War Graves Foundation, including Ereveld Ancol, Ereveld Leuwigajah and Ereveld Candi.

And far away in the Netherlands, sun flowers were placed at the 7 crosses representing the war cemeteries in Indonesia at Nationaal Ereveld Loenen.

May we continue to share the stories of victims of war violence and may they inspire us - and give us the courage - to be alert in the present and reflect on what each of us can do to contribute a future of peace and safety for all.

09/08/2022

On behalf of Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Lambert Grijns, and Defense Attache, Kolonel Norbert Moerkens, of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are happy to extend this invitation.

Contrary to past years, the Commemoration Service for the end of the Second World War will be held in English and is open to all.

The Service will take place on Monday the 15th of August at Ereveld Menteng Pulo in Jakarta starting at 5 PM.

We'd be very happy to welcome you there, if you're visiting Jakarta. Because of seating arrangements, we would like to ask you to arrive by 4:45 PM and to register beforehand via [email protected].

For more information, please visit: bit.ly/commemoration15aug22

The Commemoration of the cessation of the Second World War in Indonesia will take place at the Netherlands War Cemetery “Ereveld Menteng Pulo” in Jakarta on Monday 15 August 2022 from 5 to 6 PM.

Your presence will be highly appreciated. We kindly request you to be present at 4.45 PM. You may register yourself via [email protected]. We warmly encourage you to bring along your younger family members.

For more information, please visit: bit.ly/commemoration15aug22

17/07/2022

After all of the hard work of the first half of 2022, a well-deserved break ...

The team of Ereveld Candi took a moment to recuperate and spend time with their families.

Thank you all so much for everything you've done in maintaining the war cemetery and the final resting places of those who are buried there. And thank you to your families for being there to support you and provide you with a welcome home to come back to. May you all be blessed always.