February 26, 2025
This article has been adapted from the original piece written by the Bible Society for the Netherlands and Flanders, available here.
The Bible Society for the Netherlands and Flanders (BSNF) and the Indonesian Bible Society (IBS) united to celebrate the revised Alkitab Terjemahan Indonesia translation with the Indonesian diaspora in the Netherlands.
On February 1, the Gereja Kristen Indonesia Nederland (GKIN) – Indonesian-Dutch Christian Church – in Amstelveen hosted 97 members of the Indonesian diaspora and partner organisations, from within the Netherlands and Germany, for a Bible service and seminar.
The Alkitab Terjemahan Baru Edisi-2 (TB2) is a revision of the 1974 translation into Bahasa Indonesia—the first created by the IBS after Indonesian independence, with support from Dutch scholars. After fifty years, the language was outdated and needed modernisation.
IBS General Secretary, Dr Sigit Triyono looks forward to seeing how God will use the newly revised TB2 translation.
“The impacts that I hope for from this revised translation are threefold:
- The Bible will be better understood by the current generation. Because the language in the updated Bible follows the development of existing languages.
- Making it easier to convey meaning in worship and Bible study. With clearer and more accurate language, TB2 makes it easier for pastors, preachers, and congregations to understand and convey God’s word, both in sermons, Bible studies, and daily life.
- Increasing love for the Bible and diligent reading of the Bible. Because the language is more modern and closer to everyday use, many people who previously had difficulty understanding the Bible will feel more comfortable reading and meditating on God’s word.”
Dr. Rieuwerd Buitenwerf, BSNF General Secretary, is also hopeful for the impact that this revised translation will have for the Indonesian community in the Netherlands.
“I hope and pray that this renewed Indonesian Bible will touch many hearts, also in the Netherlands.”
Bible Societies Working to Reach the Diaspora
GKIN is a migrant church – catering for the Indonesian-Dutch community. Within the Netherlands, many migrant churches are growing. BSNF supports them with Bibles, knowledge transfer and in-service training in children’s work. Samuel Ekpo, BSNF Relationship Manager Migrant & International Churches, visits these churches and seeks to build connections. “Our mission is for everyone to be able to read the Bible in the language of their hearts. That’s why we make Bibles available and stimulate Bible engagement.”
Buitenwerf reflects on the fact that the two countries work closely together, despite the centuries of mistreatment that complicates the relationship between the two nations:
“In the past, the Netherlands caused much suffering in Indonesia. But in 2025, the Bible Societies of both countries work well together… Because Indonesia is a big country with many languages, the challenges for the Bible Society there are huge. BSNF supports two translation projects in Indonesia. We also hope to serve churches in the Netherlands where the Indonesian language is used.”
History of the Indonesian Diaspora in the Netherlands
Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands from 1605 until 1945. During and after the Indonesian National Revolution, many people including those of mixed Dutch and Indonesian ancestry, migrated to the Netherlands. Estimated in 2022, approximately 349,300 Indonesian people live in the Netherlands.
Even similarities between the two languages still carry a legacy of this long history, with over 3,000 words adapted from Dutch to words within modern Bahasa Indonesia.
