Dutch Founders of Bali Run Club Placed on No-Entry List
Indonesian immigration authorities have banned two Dutch nationals from the country after their Bali-based social running group, Entourage Bali, was accused of systematically excluding Indonesian applicants. The men, identified in reporting by Resonate as Joost Storms (35) and Hidde van Vliet (37), were added to Indonesia's no-entry list in late July 2026. Both had already left for Singapore before they could be detained.
What Entourage Bali Was and What Went Wrong
Entourage Bali marketed itself as a curated social community for travellers, nomads, and expats, organising group runs through popular areas including Canggu, Uluwatu, and Ubud. Events drew significant crowds; a sunrise silent disco run reportedly attracted 150 participants. On the surface it looked like a harmless fitness community for the island's large digital-nomad population.
The controversy began when Indonesian residents said they were being turned away. One woman, Annisa Rahmadani Maclean, alleged publicly that her application was delayed while her husband's, submitted at the same time, was accepted immediately. Her explanation: she has an Indonesian name and phone number, while her husband has a Western name and number. Screenshots circulated online appeared to show other Indonesians receiving similar rejections, with one person reportedly told the platform was designed for digital nomads rather than local residents.
Entourage Bali later apologised, saying its automated WhatsApp approval system had created unintended bias against Indonesian phone numbers. The group also stated that being a digital nomad is not defined by nationality and that Indonesian members had participated in recent events. Critics found the explanation insufficient.
Authorities Move Quickly
Bali's director general of immigration, Hendersam Marantoko, ordered an immediate inspection of the event organisers, stating publicly that the activities were suspected of violating regulations and discriminating against local residents. Beyond the discrimination allegations, authorities noted that the group appeared to be operating commercial activities in public spaces without the permits Indonesian law requires of foreign-run ventures.
Bali-based senator Niluh Djelantik added her voice to the criticism, warning that the island's well-known openness to visitors should never be read as permission to disrespect local residents, and that using public spaces while rejecting Indonesians is unacceptable.
A Wider Conversation About Integration
The incident has sharpened an ongoing debate in Bali about whether the growing digital-nomad community is genuinely integrating with local society or quietly building parallel social worlds that locals cannot enter. That question is relevant well beyond a single run club. It touches on how foreign-led businesses and communities position themselves, how they use shared public infrastructure, and whether their activities comply with Indonesian commercial regulations.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent accommodation and experience operators in Bali should take note of two practical points this case highlights. First, any foreigner-run commercial activity in public spaces requires proper permits; operating without them exposes organisers to enforcement action, regardless of how informal the activity appears. Second, guest-facing communities or events that visibly exclude Indonesians carry serious reputational and legal risk in the current climate. Hosts who partner with, refer guests to, or co-promote third-party social groups would be wise to check that those groups are both legally compliant and genuinely open to local participation. Demonstrating respect for local residents is not just good ethics; it is increasingly a condition of operating in Bali without incident.
Details of the Entourage Bali case were first reported by Resonate (weareresonate.com) on 27 July 2026. This post is published by the Qontaktly travel blog.
First reported by weareresonate.com.