The 62nd edition of the Tong Tong Fair will take place this year from 1 to 11 September. The Malieveld in The Hague is again the setting for the 11-day event, which feels like a voyage of discovery to Southeast Asia. In the iconic tents, visitors can enjoy Indisch culture (an ancient Eurasian mix of East and West) and cultures from South-East Asia, brought by dozens of artists and stallholders. Visitors are expected from all over the Netherlands, but also from neighbouring countries.
“After two cancelled editions due to Covid, we are happy and relieved that during this 62nd edition, lovers of Southeast Asian cultures can meet again,” said Siem Boon, director of Tong Tong Fair. “The ‘live’ encounters at the Tong Tong Fair give a special feeling that cannot be explained and cannot be found online. People who do not go on holiday this year can still go on a holiday to Southeast Asia during their staycation in The Hague. The wide range of participating artists and exhibitors from Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, makes the Tong Tong Fair unique. The hospitable atmosphere ensures that young and old, East and West feel welcome. That explains partly why we have so many visitors each year, visitors who stay for more than one day in The Hague to be part of the Tong Tong Fair. I hope that many people, like me, look forward to it again.”
Main attractions: the Food Court, the Cooking Theatre and famous chefs
Good food and drinks remain one of the main attractions of the Tong Tong Fair. The Cooking Theatre is unique, with its daily cooking demonstrations by professional and hobby chefs, including tasting sessions afterwards. Several successful cookbook authors will be present to give demonstrations and sign their books: Vanja van der Leeden (winner of The Golden Cookbook in 2019 with Indorock), Francis Kuijk (2016 finalist of Heel Holland Bakt, the Dutch version of The Great British Bake-Off), Maureen Tan (author of the bestselling cookbook Bijbel van de Indonesische Keuken) among others. So if you’re hungry, visit the Food Court, where all kinds of specialties are prepared for the most critical audience in the Netherlands.
Music and dance
Very special: This year the Tong Tong Fair is welcoming Indonesian dance and music groups from Gorontalo (North Sulawesi), West Sumatra, Magelang (Central Java), Ponorogo (East Java) and Bandung (West Java). Performances vary daily, so check the schedule online.
Other highlights of the programme include the Indonesian singer Anggun, who took part in the Eurovision Song Contest for France in 2012, the renowned gamelan ensemble Widosari, demonstrations of the Indonesian martial art pencak silat, the Indonesian jazz pianist Nita Aartsen, and fashion shows by designer Joko SSP from Solo (Central Java).
If you like to dance, De Rotonde (The Rotunda) is the place to be. Every day, bands and DJs play music to dance to, and there are occasional dance workshops. The area also includes a cosy terrace and picnic area to relax.
About the Tong Tong Fair
The Tong Tong Fair is rooted in the Indisch capital of the world, The Hague, and has its origins in the Pasar Malam Tong-Tong/Besar. It offers a modern mix of East and West and is always dynamic. By getting together and being creative, Indisch culture keeps on developing. The Tong Tong Fair is a combination of an international fair, a food event and a cultural festival, organized in several theme pavilions with various stages.
1 – 11 September 2022
Malieveld, Koningskade, The Hague
(opposite The Hague Central Station)
More info: www.tongtongfair.com