Museums - Museum Nusantara

This museum is entirely dedicated to the history and cultures of Indonesia. Its existence is closely tied to that of the Indian Institute of Delft, whose mission, from 1864 to 1900, was to instruct future colonial employees in Indonesian culture.
Spread over two floors, the galleries of the permanent exhibition present the various Indonesian cultures: archaeological, classical, Islamic and traditional. They also address the Dutch colonial presence. There are important works of Southeast Asian art in the section devoted to tribal cultures, including Asmat shields and ancestor poles from Irian Jaya; korwar reliquaries from Geelvinck Bay; ornaments, wickerwork, and shields from Borneo; and sculptures from Nias Island. Many of these works were collected in the late nineteenth century.
The museum’s Internet site is particularly well designed, and allows full access to the collections.