Activities

The former Werkstättenweg bridge in the public park Bürgerpark was renamed “Bandungbrücke” on 18 June 2021 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the town twinning between Braunschweig  and Bandung. The bridge’s new name can now be read on a boulder right next to it.

Together with Ardian Wicaksono, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia based in Hamburg, and Wolfgang Sehrt, President of the German-Indonesian Society of Lower Saxony e. V. (DIG), Mayor Annegret Ihbe ceremoniously unveiled the boulder last Friday, 18 June. 

“There is hardly a structure whose function and significance is as fitting for the partnership between two cities as a bridge,” said Ihbe. “The connecting element of a bridge, the overcoming of obstacles, is an image for the necessary building of bridges between people and cultures. If this bridge will now bear the name of our Indonesian twin city, I associate this with the hope that this symbolic bridge-building will be a lasting inspiration for the future partnership between our cities.”

Actually, the 60th anniversary of the twinning should have been celebrated already in 2020 together with a delegation from Bandung. However, due to the Corona pandemic, the celebrations had to be postponed. In 2021, the city of Bandung could again not send a delegation. Instead, Mayor Danial from Bandung sent a greeting, which was read out at the unveiling. 

This way, the long-standing relations were crowned with the symbolic act of building a bridge after 60 and one years. Before the unveiling, members of the DIG and staff of the Indonesian Consulate General had festively decorated the bridge. Accompanied by Indonesian music, the invited guests were able to admire a ceremony in the public park Bürgerpark, a graceful Balinese dance and then taste some specialities of Indonesian cuisine.

On 7 October 2020, the new Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hamburg, Mr. Ardian Wicaksono, made his inaugural visit to Lord Mayor Markurth. 

Topics of the meeting were activities for the anniversary year with Bandung, planning of the anniversary celebration in 2021 as well as new possibilities of cooperation.  

24 May 2020 was the 60th anniversary of the twinning between Braunschweig and Bandung. The city of Braunschweig had planned a big celebration ceremony and an official delegation from Bandung headed by Mayor Danial should participate. 

Apart from the official ceremony on 26th June 2020, it was planned to name a bridge in the Bürgerpark after Bandung. A party for the citizens and the visitors of the park was supposed to accompany this event. Furthermore, additional events such as exhibitions, an Indonesian market, a cooking class and more were also scheduled for this jubilee. 

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festivities had to be postponed. We hope that they can take place around 18 June 2021.

On the occasion of the 210th anniversary of Bandung’s foundation, Lord Mayor Markurth sent a video message congratulating the city of Bandung. The video message was published on Bandung’s webpages.