15 August Melati Heritage Magnet

Every year on August 15th, the Indische community gathers at the Indisch Monument in The Hague to commemorate the formal end of World War II in the Dutch East Indies. Unveiled in 1988, the monument serves as a central place of mourning and remembrance for all victims of the Japanese occupation, the subsequent Bersiap period, and the massive displacement that followed. The melati (Jasminum sambac), with its five distinct petals, was chosen as the national symbol of this remembrance. Worn close to the heart, its white color signifies purity and mourning, while its enduring fragrance evokes the homeland left behind. This design honors that unbroken line of memory, paying tribute to the resilience of the Indo-European, Moluccan, and broader diaspora communities.