JAKARTA :

TRAILING
THE
HERITAGE
A PHOTO BOOK BY NADIA JOVIANI

Nadia Joviani
Jakarta: Trailing the Heritage
2016, Nadia Joviani
90 pages
All pictures taken with Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-W960, 16.1 megapixels

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In preparing the book Jakarta: Trailing the
Heritage, I wish to dedicate this book to my
parents, who fully supports me in everything I
do.
Sincerest thanks are addressed to the following
people, for their invaluable help: Mr. Marury,
Mr. Romadon, Ms. Jesica Maria, Ms. Judith and
Mr. Robert Davis.

Warm Regards,
Nadia Joviani

INTRODUCTION
In the hustle bustle of Jakarta daily life,
precious memories and history are treasured in
some of Jakartas oldest buildings.
Unfortunately, over the years, some of these
heritage places have disappeared for various
reasons, mostly due to the lack of interest and
care from the people.
As a young citizen, I am truly concerned about
this issue. I do not want the rich heritage of
Jakarta be wasted and eventually go to ruins.
In this book, I have tried to capture a glimpse
of Jakartas past, in the hope that this will
raise
peoples
awareness
about
Jakartas
diversity and valuable history.

CONTENT
01 Kota Tua

02 National Museum

48

03 National Gallery

52

04 Jakarta Art Building

57

05 Jakarta Cathedral

61

06 Pasar Baru

65

07 Museum of National Awakening

69

08 Zion Church

73

09 Glodok (Chinatown)

78

01
KOTA
TUA
An
area
of
Dutch
colonization
inheritance
which was well-known as
Batavia
in
the
17th
century.
It
spans
1.3
square
kilometers
within
North
Jakarta
and
West
Jakarta.

SUNDA KELAPA PORT

Jl. Maritime No. 8, North Jakarta

Activity in Sunda Kelapa port dates back to the 12th

century
and
was
the
beginning
of
the
present
metropolitan city of Jakarta.

Until the late 19th century, Sunda Kelapa served as

the main port of Batavia, before the Netherlands East
Indies government built a new port, Tanjung Priok to
accommodate the increasing traffic and shallow water.

Magnificent phinisi boats, traditional two masted

wooden sailing ship serving an inter-island freight
service in the archipelago.

MARITIME MUSEUM
Jl. Pasar Ikan No. 1, North Jakarta

A narrow alley between the 2 long warehouses in the

Maritime Museum compound. Initially a spice warehouse,
Maritime Museum was built in 1652 by the Dutch East
Indies Company.
10

The warehouse functioned as storage for 22 different

types of spices before being shipped to ports in Asia,
Europe, and Canada.

11

In small scale models and pictures, the Maritime

Museum gives visitors an idea of Indonesia's maritime
tradition and how it contributes to
present-day of
Indonesia.

12

SYAHBANDAR TOWER
Jl. Pasar Ikan No. 1, North Jakarta

13

Constructed in 1893, Syahbandar Tower

was used to view ships sailing in and
out of Sunda Kelapa harbor.

14

Syahbandar tower was initially the kilometre zero of

Jakarta during the Dutch colonization era, marked by
this monument signed by Ali Sadikin in 1977. However,
as the city develops, it changed to become the
National Monument (Monas).
15

This 4x8 meter and 12 meter tall tower was the

tallest building in Batavia. You have to go up 77
steps to reach the top. Due to its 200 year old age,
Syahbandar tower is slowly tilting and is often
referred to as The Leaning Tower.

16

VOC GALANGAN BUILDING

Jl. Kakap No. 1, North Jakarta

17

The building as viewed from the top of

Syahbandar tower is an atmospheric cafe
which occupies the premises of the
Dutch
East
Indies
Company
(VOC)
shipyard. The shipyard dates back to
1628 and it is where ships were
repaired.
18

Since 1999, it has housed the Very Old Cafe

(abbreviated as VOC) as the owner wants to put it
to better use than as a place to store oil and
other chemicals.
19

FISH MARKET
Jl. Pasar Ikan, North Jakarta

20

First built in 1631, it was located in the east of The

Great River (Ciliwung), but due to the expansion of
the Batavia fort, it was relocated to the west of The
Great River in 1636. The market soon became well known
and attracted many fishermen, especially from Central
Java, East Java, Cirebon and also people of Chinese
descent.
21

Nowadays, the market is also home to fishermen who

want to settle with their families in fishing
settlements on the southern and western parts.

22

In 1846, the Fish Market was relocated to where it is

now. The white concrete wall behind is an original
structure from 1846, but it is now in ruining
condition.

23

FATAHILLAH MUSEUM
Jl. Taman Fatahillah No. 1, West
Jakarta

24

This two-story building was built in 1710 as the

Stadhuis or City Hall of Batavia. This building also
served as a courthouse and prison. The City Hall was
the center of Batavia.

25

A Hermes statue in the backyard of the

museum was donated in 1905 by Ernst
Stolz, a dermatologist from Rotterdam to
thank Batavias governor for a trading
opportunity. In Greek mythology, Hermes
is the God of fortune.
26

The balcony on the second floor was where people

watched executions being carried out in front of the
City Hall. The last execution carried out was in 1896.

27

This is one of the underground prison cells located in

the City Hall. There was hardly any ventilation and
they used to lock up to 50 prisoners in one small
cell. The feet of prisoners were chained and attached
to heavy iron balls.
28

FINE ARTS AND

CERAMICS MUSEUM
Jl. Pos Kota No. 2, West Jakarta

29

The Fine Arts and Ceramics Museum was

formerly
the
Raad
van
Het
Binnen
Casteel Batavia (Court of Justice of
the Batavia) built in neo-classicist
style in 1870. During the Japanese
occupation
era,
this
building
functioned as a military dorm.
30

The museum houses a large collection of paintings,

ceramics
and
sculptures
from
all
across
the
archipelago, as well as those with international
historic value.

31

A
traditional
Balinese
wood
sculpture exhibited in the museum.

32

WAYANG MUSEUM
Jl. Pintu Besar Utara No. 27, West
Jakarta

33

The Wayang Museum building was constructed at the

location of a former old church, built by the Dutch
East Indies Company in 1640 with a name of de oude
Hollandsche Kerk (Old Dutch Church). It changed its
name into de nieuwe Hollandsche Kerk (New Dutch
Church) after its renovation in 1732. The church
existed until 1808, when an earthquake struck and sent
the building to ruins.
34

This puppet museum showcases one of the

best collections of wayang puppets from
all across the nation, as well as
puppets from Europe, America, Vietnam,
Cambodia, India, and China.
35

BANK INDONESIA
MUSEUM
Jl. Pintu Besar Utara No. 3, West
Jakarta

36

The museum was formerly the first headquarter of De

Javasche Bank, the central bank of Dutch East Indies.

37

Bank Indonesia Museum introduces people to Bank

Indonesias role in the Indonesian history, from
formulating monetary policies to regulating payment
systems.
38

JAKARTA KOTA RAILWAY

STATION (BEOS)
Jl. Taman Stasiun Kota No. 1, West
Jakarta

39

Built in 1887, the station was named Batavia Zuid

(South Batavia) until the beginning of the 20th
century. The station was also commonly known as the
Beos Station which is an abbreviation of Bataviasche
Ooster Spoorweg Maatschappij (the Batavian Eastern
Railway Company) who established this station.

40

To date, Jakarta Railway Station still operates as a

main station in the capital, along with Gambir
Station, Jatinegara Station, and Pasar Senen Station.

41

KOTA INTAN BRIDGE

Jl. Tiang Bendera, West Jakarta

42

Built in 1628, the Kota Intan bridge in Old Batavia is

the only surviving Dutch drawbridge in Indonesia. Kota
Intan Bridge had several names: Engelse Brug (English
Bridge),
Het
Middelpunt
Brug
(Central
Bridge),
Hoenderpasarbrug (Chicken Market), and Ophaalbrug
Juliana (Queen Juliana Bridge).

43

The view of Kali Besar (Great River/

Ciliwung) where the red wooden bridge spans
over. The bridge is 30 meters in length and
4,43 meters in width. It used to link the
Dutch fort with the English fort.
44

TOKO MERAH
Jl. Kali Besar Barat No. 7, West
Jakarta

45

Toko Merah was formerly the residence of the GovernorGeneral of the Dutch East Indies, Gustaaf Willem baron
van Imhoff. He used this building as his house and
shop, and was painted red (merah in Indonesian).

46

Built in 1730, Toko Merah is one of the oldest

building in Jakarta. The building is located in the
west side of the main canal of Ciliwung River.
Unfortunately, this building is no longer in use.

47

02
NATIONAL
MUSEUM
Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat
No. 12, Central Jakarta

48

The museum was opened in 1868, often called Gedung

Gajah (because of the bronze elephant in front of the
museum, granted by King Chulalongkorn of Siam in 1871)
or Gedung Arca (because of a great variety of statues
from different periods displayed.)

49

In 1778, the scientific institution Bataviaasch

Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen (Royal
Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences) was established
to
promote
research
in
history,
archaeology,
ethnography, and physics. One of the founders named
JCM Radermacher donated a building and a collection of
cultural objects and books. Due to the growing
collections, the Dutch East Indies government decided
to
build
the
National
Museum
to
preserve
the
collections and also to serve as an office.

50

A 4.3 meter tall statue of Adityavarman, the king of

Malayapura. The statue was found in West Sumatra and
it dates back to the 14th century. It depicts
Adityavarman as a Bhairava, a Hindu God associated
with annihilation.
51

03
NATIONAL
GALLERY
Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur
No. 14, Central Jakarta

52

The left wing of the National Gallery. The National

Gallery was built in 1817 as a Dutch Indies residence.
In 1900, the complex was converted into an educational
institution known as Carpentier Alting Stichting (CAS)
and a female dormitory building.

53

A sculpture of Srikandi, a character in the Hindu

epic, the Mahabharata, exhibited in National
Gallery.

54

An installation art from 1996, titled Belajar Antre

Kepada Semut by Krisna Murti, exhibited in the
contemporary art exhibition room.

55

Graffiti on the walls of the building becomes

popular spot to take self-pictures among the youths.

56

04
JAKARTA ART
BUILDING
Jl. Gedung Kesenian No.
1, Central Jakarta

57

This neo-renaissance style concert hall was built in

1821 and formerly called Schouwburg (City Theatre).
During the Japanese occupation, this building was used
by the Japanese military.

58

In 1987, Jakarta Art Building has been restored and

reopened as a theatre. It has a stage of 24 x 17.5
meters and can accommodate up to 500 people.

59

This building offers a world-class acoustics

and sound system, making it a perfect venue
for performances. Up to now, many dramas,
orchestras, even wayang performances are held
here.
60

05
JAKARTA
CATHEDRAL
Jl. Katedral No. 7B, Central
Jakarta

61

Jakarta Cathedral or Gereja Santa Maria Pelindung

Diangkat Ke Surga (the Church of Our Lady of
Assumption) is a Catholic Cathedral built in neoclassical style. Located right across the Istiqlal
Mosque, it gives an evidence of inter- religions
relation that coexist harmoniously in Jakarta.
62

The church was initially blessed and inaugurated on 6

November 1829. The church was renovated in 1859, but
collapsed on 9 April 1890 due to an earthquake. The
present church is the one rebuilt between 1891 and
1901, consecrated on 21 April 1901.

63

The main entrance of Jakarta Cathedral. There stands a

statue of Our Lady Mary, while on top of the portal
there is the Latin words Beatam Me Dicent Omnes
Generationes which means "All generations shall call
me blessed".
64

06
PASAR
BARU
Jl. Pasar Baru No. 68,
Central Jakarta

65

For almost two centuries, Pasar Baru has been a

bustling center of commercial activity. It was
initially established in 1820 to cater the Dutch
colonialists living along Jl. Veteran. The market
features a mix of Dutch and Chinese architecture.
66

The textile shops owned by Indian Bombay merchants

such as Hariom and Gehmal, are still there attracting
their regular clientele looking for Indian silks and a
variety of textiles at reasonable prices.

67

Antara photo agency along the streets of Pasar Baru.

Established in 1937, Antara was the nations first
news agency.

68

07
MUSEUM OF
NATIONAL
AWAKENING
Jl. Abdul Rachman Saleh No.
26, Central Jakarta

69

The building was formerly STOVIA (School Tot Opleiding

Van Indische Artsen), a medical school opened in March
of 1902. This was the dorm where the students were
obliged to live in.

70

The original school bell from the STOVIA era.

71

The museum houses a total of 2,042 collections of

furnitures, clocks, bells ring, health supplies,
clothing,
weapons,
photographs,
paintings,
sculptures, dioramas, maps, mockups, sketches,
and miniatures.

72

08
ZION
CHURCH
Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta
No. 1, West Jakarta

73

Dating back from 1695, it is the oldest church

still
standing
in
Jakarta.
It
was
called
Portugeesche
Buitenwerk,
meaning
Portuguese
Church outside the Walls , because there were
another Portuguese church inside the walled city,
but was burnt down in 1808. The church is now
named Gereja Sion
74

The baroque church interior. Most of its

furniture is of the same time when it was
built.
75

The baroque organ over the entrance of the church with

its beautiful carvings from the end of 17th century.
Up to now, the organ is still in use for special
church services.

76

The oldest church bell in Jakarta with the inscription

God Allein die Ehre (Honour to God alone).

77

09
GLODOK
(CHINATOWN)
A Chinatown area in West
Jakarta. It is touted the
largest in the nation since
the Dutch colonial era,
with the majority of its
residents
of
Chinese
descent.

78

PETAK SEMBILAN
STREET MARKET
Jl. Kemenangan 3, West Jakarta

79

It is said that Petak Sembilan earned its name from

the nine tiny houses (in Indonesian called Rumah
Petak) in this area, harking back in the early 1900s.

80

The daily
Market.

hustle

bustle

of

81

Petak

Sembilan

Street

If you go to Glodok area, a culinary tour is worth a

try. Gang Gloria is one of the best-known places,
selling a wide variety of Chinese food.

82

JIN DE YUAN TEMPLE

Jl. Kemenangan 3 No. 13, West Jakarta

83

The main entrance of Jin De Yuan Temple (or Vihara

Dharma Bhakti), the oldest Chinese temple in Jakarta.
It was established around 1650 by a Chinese lieutenant
named Kwee Hoen in honor of Guan Yin, the Buddhist
female deity of mercy, commonly known as Kwan Im.

84

The lanterns hung

Buddhas power.

in

the

85

temple

which

symbolizes

Remains of the main building after a fire blazed the

temple on March 2, 2015. The fire was said to be
caused by the candles.

86

ST. MARIA DE FATIMA

CHURCH
Jl. Kemenangan 3 No. 47, West Jakarta

87

The building was originally the house of a Chinese

royalty from the early 19th century. In 1953,
the
missionary Pater Wilhelmus Krause Van Eeden SJ
purchased the property and turned it into a Catholic
church.

88

The interior is similar of an affluent Chinese house

and
features
an
oriental
wooden
ceiling.
The
decorations, however, are very much Catholic in style.

89

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Caraka.
Enjoy Jakarta. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.
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Hikayat Kawasan Petak Sembilan. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2016,
from
http://www.cnnindonesia.com/gaya-hidup/20150219153719-26933379/hikayat-kawasan-petak-sembilan/
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2015,
from
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id/web/encyclopedia/detail/646/Gedung-Kesenian-Jakarta-GKJ
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(n.d.).
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//amarishotel.com/amaris-pasarbaru
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90

 A city without its

history is like a man lost
of his memory.
-

Anonymous