More than 70,000 visitors from the Netherlands and abroad expected!

After two editions in September, the Tong Tong Fair returns to Malieveld in The Hague in May. The 64th edition will take place from Friday 24 May to Sunday 2 June 2024. The event is a meeting place for young and old, East and West. 70,000 visitors from all over the Netherlands, but also from neighbouring countries and even further away, will once again make their way to the heart of the Dutch city. About half of the exhibitors are from overseas, mainly from Indonesia but also from other parts of Asia. Tickets are on sale now.

Fair: an international event

The Tong Tong Fair is an exhilarating fusion of an Asian fair (the Grand Pasar and the Indonesian Pavilion), a cultural festival (the Tong Tong Festival), and a food event. Since 1959, it takes place every year in the The Hague  (except when the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic).
Dozens of exhibitors from all across Indonesia travel to the Netherlands to participate in the Indonesia Pavilion; at the Grand Pasar, there are exhibitors from other Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and India. The fair offers a product mix of wellness, home & décor, fashion & textiles, jewellery, and gemstones, all linked to Southeast Asia.

Food: central Food Court

The Tong Tong Fair Eetwijk was given a winning makeover last year and is now turned into an eclectic Food Court, just like in Asia. Established restaurants and small warung eateries compete to bring the best flavours; visiting food lovers add some extra spice to the competitive mix. At the Food Court you can find special dishes that are impossible to find elsewhere in the Netherlands.  It’s the place where many visitors stick around for a long time, picking out different dishes and snacks from the abundance of fragrant and colourful food that is served.

Festival: four theatres and a new exhibition

The Tong Tong Festival offers an international performing arts programme in four theatres with music (traditional, modern, experimental, popular, western, eastern, east-west), dance, fashion, literature, talks, martial arts demonstrations, and culinary workshops. This year will feature, among others, krontjong from Jakarta, world jazz from Bali, fashion from Solo (Central Java), indorock from JazzmasterMania and Crazy Rockers, country music from Music Road Pilots, and Lowlands and Eurosonic festival favourite: Nusantara Beat. There is no extra charge to attend any of these events; however a contribution may occasionally be required to cover the cost of ingredients for the workshops. Check our website for a full list and more details!
As always, Tong Tong Festival also features an exhibition. This time it focuses on the (colonial) significance of the white kebaya. The exhibition is curated by artist-researcher Sabine Bolk and author/journalist Dido Michielsen (author of the critically acclaimed historical novel Lichter dan ik (Lighter than I) which has been translated into several languages). Right next to this exhibition is the specialised pop-up bookshop Pasar Boekoe, with not only Dutch-language titles, but also English-language ones.

Admission prices

Tickets are date-specific and range in price depending on the date (starting at €15). Evening tickets, with admission after 6pm, are cheaper (starting at €9). Children aged 4-14 get a discount (€5). Admission is free for children up to 3 years old. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, groups of 25 or more will enjoy our discounted rate of €13.50 per person. There are also multiple days admission passes available for visitors planning to attend more than one day.
Tickets can be bought here.

Where? Malieveld, Koningskade 1, 2596 AA The Hague
When? 24 May – 02 June 2024
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12am-10pm, Sun 12am-9pm. Entrance pavilion with cloakroom, coffee corner, restrooms, among others, open from 11am, except on opening day (24 May).

Background

Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands until its declaration of independence in 1945 (the official transfer of sovereignty took place in 1949). As the seat of government, The Hague has always had the strongest ties with the Dutch East Indies, as it was then called. This is also reflected in the shops, companies, associations, and many residents who have lived there for short or longer periods of time. As a result, since 1959 The Hague has hosted the biggest annual Eurasian festival in the heart of the city, on Malieveld, right next to the Central Station. Since the early 1970s, Indonesian artists and exhibitors have also played a prominent role. Around the turn of the 21st century, exhibitors from other Asian countries, such as Vietnam, India, Nepal, Thailand, and Malaysia, also joined in. During the colonial era, this mix of exhibitors from across Asia was already common practice at the Pasar Gambir, the annual international market and festival in Batavia (Jakarta) which served as the inspiration for the founders of the Tong Tong Fair.