MAXIMA OF THE NETHERLANDS IN INDONESIA: DIPLOMACY, STYLE AND STRATEGY IN A KEY VISIT
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands arrives in Indonesia with an agenda that blends diplomacy, financial development and a carefully calculated public image. Her visit combines institutional rigor with a presence that resonates with local culture.
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands began a three-day official visit to Indonesia in her capacity as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance, with a schedule aimed at advancing financial-wellness programs and strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
The queen was welcomed with honors at Jakarta’s international airport and immediately traveled to Central Java, where she received a white flower garland symbolizing respect, hospitality and protection. Later in Surakarta, she was presented with a traditional ceremonial scarf, which she wore throughout the day.
Her first engagement was a visit to a textile factory participating in the Reimagining Industries to Support Equality (RISE) program. The initiative, supported by major international textile and footwear brands, promotes workers’ financial well-being through digital payments, budget-management training and savings mechanisms. Máxima spoke with employees about their experiences and emphasized the role of financial education in strengthening economic resilience.
She later toured a batik workshop, home to Indonesia’s emblematic national textile, where she received a scarf crafted with this technique. The day concluded with a meeting with young people and entrepreneurs organized by the Women’s World Banking, focused on the use of financial products and services.
During the first day of activities, Máxima wore a yellow ensemble by Belgian label Natan, featuring a long-sleeved blouse and wide-leg trousers. The color deeply symbolic in Indonesia and much of Asia for its historic association with royalty, prosperity and good fortune was interpreted as a diplomatic nod. Upon her arrival in the country, however, she had chosen a more relaxed black suit with flared-sleeve jacket, culottes and studded loafers.
Máxima, an economist by training with a background in international finance, will continue her agenda in Jakarta, where she is scheduled to join a roundtable at the local UN office on inclusive financing. She will also speak at an event hosted by the International Finance Corporation, focused on loans that promote economic growth. Later, she will visit the Gran Harmoni housing complex, a sustainable project for low- and middle-income families, where she will meet homeowners and attend the signing of mortgage contracts.
The program also includes meetings with Deloitte and business leaders convened by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth to review insurance and savings initiatives aimed at reducing economic vulnerability.
On Thursday, she is expected to participate in the National Financial Health Event organized by Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK), addressing fraud risks and the safe use of financial services. She will also meet with ministers and OJK representatives to discuss policies aimed at strengthening household financial health. The visit will conclude with a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, where she will present her findings and recommendations.
The Netherlands and Indonesia share a long and complex history shaped by more than three centuries under Dutch colonial rule, which ended in 1949. Máxima’s visit seeks to deepen cultural, economic and political cooperation in a new phase centered on financial development and institutional strengthening.