During a well-attended inauguration on the Lloydkade on Sunday, June 21, the national monument was Ulu Kora inaugurated. With a ceremony attended by Mayor Carola Schouten and Prime Minister Rob Jetten, the initiators of the National Moluccan Monument Foundation have reached a milestone. After a period of ten years, marking the Lloydkade with a monument at the spot where Moluccan KNIL soldiers and their families arrived in 1951 has finally become a reality.

Ulu Kora is a joint idea and design by conceptual artist Jaïr Pattipeilohy and visual artist Maurice den Boer. It was chosen in 2022 after an intensive selection period from an open call set up by the National Moluccan Monument Foundation in 2021. Ulu Kora literally means 'the bow of a kora-kora', a traditional Moluccan rowing boat. It symbolizes direction, strength, and the history of the Moluccan community in the Netherlands. The sculpture is made of bronze and stands out due to a distinctive patina. Jaïr Pattipeilohy has the story around Ulu Kora Developed and presented with text and photography. Visual artist Maurice den Boer developed the concept into a bronze sculpture. The project was made possible at the Lloydkade in close collaboration with BKOR.

'Ulu Kora connects past, present, and future. It reminds us of the sacrifices that have been made, and of the strength of a community that, despite all trials, has managed to preserve its identity.' – Jaïr Pattipeilohy

Prime Minister Jetten offered his apologies on behalf of the Dutch government at the dedication of the monument. An apology after 75 years for the mistakes made during the departure of the many Moluccan KNIL soldiers and their families, as well as immediately after their arrival in the Netherlands. The injustice inflicted upon the Moluccan community has left traces across the generations. It is the grandchildren who initiated the monument and who accompanied the surviving first generation to the ceremonial dedication of Ulu Kora National Monument.

More information about the inauguration and the background can be found at ulukora.nl