NATIONAL JUNE-JULY 2017 | 19 3 Indonesian High-End Guitars offered to , and by the Ambassador of Indonesia, HE. I. Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja and characters. All three musicians are very happy with their guitar and love the wonderful sound. At their re- quest, Kooymans guitar is engraved with storks (coat of arms of The Hague), Boudewijn de Groot with little ducks ( coat of arms of Heem- stede) and Henny Vrienten with owls (his wife’s affection for owls).

Robin van de Poll, director from Ne- hem International told the audience about the collaboration which started in 2012. He read about the high qual- ity guitars produced in Bandung in a famous magazine for guitars and vis- ited the company. “At first, I was not thinking about collaborating with the From left to right: Boudewijn de Groot, Henny Vrienten en George Kooymans. company, but after a while, we and From left to right: Henny Vrienten, George Kooymans and the Ambassador the whole team decided to collaborate High-end custom made guitars from Ambassador Puja in his remarks com- in producing a high quality brand the city of Bandung, Indonesia, are mended the collaboration between guitar, called Homestead guitars for entering the Dutch and European Homestead and PT Genta Trikarya the European market, and we started market. The guitars are produced as as a fine business example involving in the ”. A representative a collaboration between a Dutch com- businesses from both countries. He from the Indonesian company, PT. pany, Nehem International, and PT. added that the high quality guitars Genta Trikarya, Mr. Awan Nasution, Genta Trikarya from Bandung. could further inform the public in the told the audience through video call, Netherlands about one of Indonesia’s that the team in Bandung is proud to The product was launched at the Em- high end finished products, such as be able to produce the guitars for the bassy of the Republic of Indonesia on the guitars produced in Bandung. “I trio musicians in the Netherlands. 11 May in the Hague and 3 guitars am confident that this collaboration were presented by the Ambassador, I will also enhance people-to-people re- Homestead Guitars products are Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, to 3 well- lations through musical instruments made in Bandung based on fine In- known Dutch muscians: George as I believe that music is a universal donesian timbers such as Javanese Kooymans (guitarist, composer and language”, said Ambassador Puja. Rosewood, Javanese Mahogany and singer of the band “”, After receiving the guitars, the trio Makassar Ebony. The products will be in the 1960s and 70s; Henny Vrienten who recently created a new band marketed not only in the Netherlands, (composer, bass guitarist and singer called “Vreemde Kostgangers” tried but also to a wider European Union of the band “” and another the guitars and played some of their market. musician Boudewijn de Groot (sing- songs. The guitars were made espe- From left to right: Boudewijn de Groot, Hennie Vrienten, George Kooymans, the er/songwriter and guitarist. cially for the trio to meet their tastes Written by Nanda Jagusiak-Monteiro Ambassador and Robin van de Poll

Plein, The Hague THAILAND 1– 2 July 2017 GRAND FESTIVAL2017 12.00 – 20.00 FOOD & DRINKS | SPA | HANDICRAFT | LIVE MUSIC | CULTURAL PERFORMANCES

Organised by The Royal Thai Embassy, The Hague