| JAKARTA |
The Jakarta History Museum was built in 1712 and was known during that time
as the Stadhuis, meaning City Hall. At the time it was built its location was
smacked in the center of Batavia, or old Jakarta.
The two-storey building was inaugurated two years before it was built by
Governer General Abraham van Riebeeck (1653-1713). The present building
replaced the second City Hall (1627-1707) because the former was found to be
inadequate for a great city like Batavia. The second City Hall was a bit small
and had a flat roof for putting cannons on it.
as the Stadhuis, meaning City Hall. At the time it was built its location was
smacked in the center of Batavia, or old Jakarta.
The two-storey building was inaugurated two years before it was built by
Governer General Abraham van Riebeeck (1653-1713). The present building
replaced the second City Hall (1627-1707) because the former was found to be
inadequate for a great city like Batavia. The second City Hall was a bit small
and had a flat roof for putting cannons on it.
For some years, the second City Hall also served as the burial ground of Jan Pieterszoon Coen, the founder of Batavia. The first
City Hall was built in 1620 and built in much haste on a piece of land on the present Kali Besar Timur, just south of the old
drawbridge. It lasted only six years.
According to heuken, the museum's structure is well proportioned in a kind of baroque classicism way. The building plan was
drawn by the head of the VOC's artisan, W.J. van de Velde and constructed by a German building contractor, J.F. Kemmer.
Construction took place for three years (1707-1709). Van de Velde was chosen because of his experience. The expenses of
building such a great building at that time, was financed completely by new taxes, which provided twice as much money for the
main building. With the rest of the money, two new lower wings were added and the existing orphanage and women's prison were
repaired.
The entire layout of the building is very practical and the proof of this is, it is continuously being used even up till today. The
building lacks breadth if compared to its length.
City Hall was built in 1620 and built in much haste on a piece of land on the present Kali Besar Timur, just south of the old
drawbridge. It lasted only six years.
According to heuken, the museum's structure is well proportioned in a kind of baroque classicism way. The building plan was
drawn by the head of the VOC's artisan, W.J. van de Velde and constructed by a German building contractor, J.F. Kemmer.
Construction took place for three years (1707-1709). Van de Velde was chosen because of his experience. The expenses of
building such a great building at that time, was financed completely by new taxes, which provided twice as much money for the
main building. With the rest of the money, two new lower wings were added and the existing orphanage and women's prison were
repaired.
The entire layout of the building is very practical and the proof of this is, it is continuously being used even up till today. The
building lacks breadth if compared to its length.
| JAKARTA HISTORY MUSEUM (CITY HALL) |
Outside the former City Hall, in the center of the square,
there used to be an octagonal structure like the replica on the
left. During those days, people fetched their drinking water
from it. The water was channeled through a long pipe from
the Ciliwung from Glodok. Remnants of this pipe have been
found, when the underpass between the Kota Railstation and
the former Mandiri was built in 2006.
there used to be an octagonal structure like the replica on the
left. During those days, people fetched their drinking water
from it. The water was channeled through a long pipe from
the Ciliwung from Glodok. Remnants of this pipe have been
found, when the underpass between the Kota Railstation and
the former Mandiri was built in 2006.
Inside the museum , a staircase made by
Chinese carpenters in the late 18th
century leads to the second floor. At the
foot of the staircase, there is a lion
statue, Chinese in origin.
Chinese carpenters in the late 18th
century leads to the second floor. At the
foot of the staircase, there is a lion
statue, Chinese in origin.
On the second floor, above the door
leading to a small room, overlooking the
rear of the building, there is a painting of
three judgements by J.J de Nijs (1660)
leading to a small room, overlooking the
rear of the building, there is a painting of
three judgements by J.J de Nijs (1660)
| On the second floor, there are many furnitures that were used during the 17th and 18th centuries exhibited like the four poster bed above. Most of the furnitures are made of quality hardwoods like ebony, iron and satin wood. Some of the pieces came from all over the world like India and Europe. On the ground floor, other type of exhibits are displayed such as the old cannon and megalith above. |
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| NATIONAL MUSEUM |
The National Museum on Jalan Merdeka Barat was constructed between 1864 and 1868. This neoclassical building with its doric
columns was designed by Ir. W.F.H.F de Raaders as a Roman Villa. The second floor over the main entrance, was added in 1913.
In front of the museum's entrance, there is a bronze elephant, given by the King Chulalongkorn of Siam in 1871. Because of this,
this building is fondly known as Gedung Gajah (Elephant House) by the locals.
The museum was established by the famed Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschapper group or the Batavian
Society of Arts and Sciences. The museum gained international notoriety because of its rich collections of archeological and
historical objects, pieces of fine arts, ceramics and ethnographic items.
columns was designed by Ir. W.F.H.F de Raaders as a Roman Villa. The second floor over the main entrance, was added in 1913.
In front of the museum's entrance, there is a bronze elephant, given by the King Chulalongkorn of Siam in 1871. Because of this,
this building is fondly known as Gedung Gajah (Elephant House) by the locals.
The museum was established by the famed Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschapper group or the Batavian
Society of Arts and Sciences. The museum gained international notoriety because of its rich collections of archeological and
historical objects, pieces of fine arts, ceramics and ethnographic items.
court yard in the middle of the museum
along one of the corridors with many artefacts
R - the many relics displayed in the
museum
L - some of the furnitures of the VOC
from different periods are displayed in
one section of the museum
museum
L - some of the furnitures of the VOC
from different periods are displayed in
one section of the museum
Outside the museum, on each side of the
elephant statue, there are two cannons
standing guard., one casted in 1676 by J.
Burgerhuys and another in 1696 by
A.van Ommen. Both of them have the
coat-of-arms of the VOC
elephant statue, there are two cannons
standing guard., one casted in 1676 by J.
Burgerhuys and another in 1696 by
A.van Ommen. Both of them have the
coat-of-arms of the VOC
Also at the main compound of the
museum, three cannons are displayed.
One of them has dolphins in the shape
of dolphins
museum, three cannons are displayed.
One of them has dolphins in the shape
of dolphins
| FORMER NATIONAL ARCHIVE BUILDING |
The former national archives building was built by Reinier de Klerk (1710-80) while
he was a member of the Council of Indies. This house was located far outside the city
of Batavia and regarded as a country house. The main house is a model of Closed
Dutch Style as it has no open gallery at the front or rear, which was common those
days for houses in a tropical climate. The house has high ceilings, long and broad
windows, large open fanlights above the doors, cool stone floors and a high well
insulated roof, to adapt to the tropical climate. Seven big windows on the second floor
and three windows on each side of the broad double-wing entrance stress the overall
symmetrical proportions. The six windows downstairs show simple ornaments over
the skylights. The so-called English sash windows with partly antique panes of glass
from the 18th century, were common in country houses of that period. The
symmetrical proportions became even more accentuated after the first restoration in
1900, which was undertaken after the building's long use as an orphanage.
he was a member of the Council of Indies. This house was located far outside the city
of Batavia and regarded as a country house. The main house is a model of Closed
Dutch Style as it has no open gallery at the front or rear, which was common those
days for houses in a tropical climate. The house has high ceilings, long and broad
windows, large open fanlights above the doors, cool stone floors and a high well
insulated roof, to adapt to the tropical climate. Seven big windows on the second floor
and three windows on each side of the broad double-wing entrance stress the overall
symmetrical proportions. The six windows downstairs show simple ornaments over
the skylights. The so-called English sash windows with partly antique panes of glass
from the 18th century, were common in country houses of that period. The
symmetrical proportions became even more accentuated after the first restoration in
1900, which was undertaken after the building's long use as an orphanage.