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When writer Yvonne Keuls received the Culture Prize of the city of The Hague on the occasion of her eightieth birthday in 2012, she immediately knew what she wanted to do with this money: give the city a bronze sculpture of two ladies who are indispensable here. A sculpture of two Indonesian aunts, Toetie and Pop. In her book 'Alle Indische tantes' (All India's Aunts) (2007), Keuls describes how five headstrong Indonesian ladies marvel at Dutch morals and customs. After the independence of Indonesia, totally destitute, they moved with their families to the Netherlands. Many of them settled in The Hague. There they put their shoulders to the wheel and built a new life. Keuls sees the sculpture itself as a tribute to all the Dutch East Indies aunts.

For Keuls, there was only one artist who could make this tribute: Loek Bos. He had previously made very similar portraits and sculptures of, for example, Toon Hermans and Paul van Vliet. Bos accepted the commission and made a scale model in wax. Meanwhile, Keuls tried to collect the necessary money. The prize money of 25,000 euros was not enough for a large bronze sculpture. Even after subsidies from the Prince Bernard Culture Fund, the M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandt Foundation and a generous contribution from Restaurant Dinyong, there was still a shortfall. On the platform Voordekunst, Keuls appealed for a contribution from private individuals. Fonds 1818 had previously agreed to double that amount.

Keuls campaign succeeded. No fewer than 116 donors raised the desired final 6,000 euros. On 5 October 2013, the 'Indische Tantes' were unveiled on the Frederik Hendrikplein. There they are. As if they have just finished shopping and are walking to a bench to catch up. Indeed: they are here to stay.