Kota Tua Jakarta

The former (Town Hall) of Batavia, the seat and office of the Governor General of VOC. The building now hosts the Jakarta History Museum (Museum Fatahillah).

Kota, or known in Indonesian as Kota Tua or Kota Tua Jakarta ("Jakarta Old Town"), is a neighborhood comprising the original downtown area of Jakarta, Indonesia. It is also known as Old Jakarta, and Old Batavia (Dutch: Oud Batavia). It spans 1.3 square kilometres within North Jakarta and West Jakarta (Kelurahan Pinangsia, Taman Sari and Kelurahan Roa Malaka, Tambora). The largely Chinese downtown area of Glodok is a part of Kota Tua.

History

A map of Batavia in 1740. The area of Batavia within the city walls and moat as well as the Sunda Kelapa harbor to the left (north) of the map make up Jakarta Old Town.

Main article: History of Jakarta

Kota Tua is a remainder of Oud Batavia, the first walled settlement of the Dutch in Jakarta area. The area gained importance during the 17th-19th century when it was established as the de facto capital of the Dutch East Indies. This inner walled city contrasted with the surrounding kampung (villages), orchards, and rice fields. Dubbed "The Jewel of Asia" and "Queen of the East" in the 16th century by European sailors, the area was a center of commerce due to its strategic location within the spice trade industry in the archipelago.

Headquarter of Dutch East India company

Dutch colonial tree-lined canals in Batavia, c. 1682

In 1526, Fatahillah, sent by Sultanate of Demak, invaded the Hindu Pajajaran's port of Sunda Kelapa, after which he renamed it into Jayakarta. This town was only 15 hectare in size and had a typical Javanese harbor layout. In 1619 the VOC destroyed Jayakarta under the command of Jan Pieterszoon Coen. A year later the VOC built a new town named "Batavia" after the Batavieren, the Dutch ancestors from antiquity. This city was centered around the east bank of the Ciliwung river, around present day Fatahillah Square. Inhabitants of Batavia are called "Batavianen", later known as "Betawi" people. The creole citizens are descendants of mixed various ethnicities that had inhabited Batavia.

Around 1630 the city expanded towards the west banks of Ciliwung, on the ruins of former Jayakarta. The city was designed in according to Dutch urban planning complete with a fortress (Kasteel Batavia), city wall, public square, churches, canals and tree-lined streets. The city was arranged in several blocks separated by canals. No native Javanese were allowed to live within the city walls, since the authorities were afraid that they might start an insurrection. The planned city of Batavia was completed in 1650. It became the headquarters of the VOC in the East Indies and prospered from the spice trade.

Old Batavia declined in prominence in the late 18th century, likely because the canals with their near-stagnant water, together with the warm and humid climate would often cause outbreaks of tropical diseases like malaria. Much of the old town became neglected and abandoned due to its ailing nature, and slowly its canals were filled up. Countryside villas were preferred by wealthier residents, which caused the city to grow southward. This process led to the foundation of an estate named Weltevreden.

As capital of Dutch East Indies

A street in Old Batavia in 1890, depicting 17th century housing before the development of a business district.

The city retained its status as the administrative center of the Dutch East Indies when the VOC transferred its possession to the monarch of the Netherlands in 1800.

During the rule of Governor General Daendels in 1808, the city's administration and military were moved south to Weltevreden, with a new planned town center around Koningsplein and Waterlooplein. Due to financial problems however, much of the old town, its wall, and kasteel Batavia were torn down for construction materials to build new government and civic buildings, such as the palace of Daendels (now department of Finance) and the Harmonie society building (demolished). The only remnant of Kasteel Batavia is Amsterdam Gate, which eventually was completely demolished in 1950.

The city continued to expand further south as epidemics in 1835 and 1870 forced more and more people to move out of the old city to the new spacious, green and healthier Weltevreden neighborhood. The old city became deserted and was a mere empty shell of its former glory by this period. Old Batavia kept its commercial importance as the city's main harbor and warehouses district, but it was largely overshadowed by Surabaya as the colony's prime harbor and commercial hub.

After the opening of Tanjung Priok harbor and fueled by the increasing rubber output in the late 19th century, Batavia was able to regain its commercial momentum. There had been attempts to restore the city's old downtown prominence by converting the desolated area to be the main business district of Batavia. As a result the former mansions and shophouses that at the time had been occupied by ethnic Chinese people, were converted and renovated into offices in 1900-1942. Many of these offices can still be seen today around Kali Besar. The development of the business district was hampered by the 1930 Great Depression and the Japanese occupation of Indonesia in 1942.

Post Independent Indonesia

Crumbling colonial offices in old Batavia.

After the recognition of Indonesia's independence in 1950, the business district was moved to Thamrin and Kebayoran Baru in the south, thus allowing the old city to further deteriorate again after having regained some of its lost glory.

In 1972, the Governor of Jakarta, Ali Sadikin, issued a decree that officially designated the Jakarta Kota Tua area as a heritage site. The governor's decision was necessary in order to preserve the city's architectural roots – or at least what was left of it. Despite the Governor's Decree, Kota Tua remained neglected. Even though the majority was pleased just by the issuing of the decree, not enough was being done to protect and conserve the legacy from the Dutch colonial era. Many buildings in Kota Tau remain abandoned, and increasing pollution hastened up the dilapidation rate of the old buildings. Some old buildings in Kali Besar were destroyed for development despite its heritage status, such as Hotel Omni Batavia, which was built over an old warehouse.

Restoration and revitalization

First concrete plan of Kota Tua revitalization was signed in December 2004 by Jakarta Old Town-Kotaku and the government of Jakarta. The commencement of the revitalization plan was started in 2005. Taman Fatahillah Square was revitalized in 2006.

In 2014 the city's governor at that time Joko Widodo continued the restoration plan of Kota Tua. The project, named "Jakarta Old Town Reborn" (JOTR), is a cooperation between state-owned enterprises, the municipal government and the private sector. In March 2014, an event Fiesta Fatahillah was held in Taman Fatahillah Square. The Dutch aided the restoration plan in July 2014. By August 2014, 16 buildings in Kota Tua has been restored, such as the 1929 Modernist Kota Post Office buildings, which has been converted into a contemporary art museum. Despite of this promising developments, most of the city's crumbling colonial architecture remain in ruins up to this day.

Street vendors remain the biggest problem in Kota Tua. Illegal street vendors and hawkers increase dramatically around Kota Tua area, especially during holidays, causing increase in garbage. As of May 2015, 415 street vendors are allowed to sell their items in Kota Tua area.

Notable sites

See also: List of colonial buildings and structures in Jakarta

Wayang Museum in Jakarta.

Jembatan Kota Intan drawbridge.

Cafe Batavia.

Post Office in Jakarta Old Town.

Nowadays, many remaining historical buildings and architecture are steadily deteriorating, but some of the old buildings have been restored to their former glory. However, there is still much hope in restoring the area, especially with aid from various non-profit organizations, private institutions, and the government all stepping up to the plate to rejuvenate Old Jakarta's legacy. In 2007, several streets surrounding Fatahillah square such as Pintu Besar street and Pos Kota street, were closed to vehicles as a first step towards the rejuvenation. Since 2014 the old town has a brighter future with the ambitious JOTR project to restore Old Batavia's architecture and putting the site on the UNESCO heritage list.

As an important city and commerce hub in Asia since the 16th century, Oud Batavia is home to several important historical sites and buildings:

• Relic from the Old Batavia
  • Cafe Batavia
  • Fine Art and Ceramic Museum (Former Court of Justice)
  • Gereja Sion (17th century church, the oldest surviving church in Jakarta, and probably in Indonesia)
  • Jakarta History Museum (18th century City Hall of Oud Batavia)
  • Glodok and Pinangsia Area (Jakarta Chinatown)
  • Kali Besar (original river of Oud Batavia)
  • Kota Intan Drawbridge (the only surviving Dutch drawbridge in Indonesia)
  • Luar Batang Mosque
  • Maritime Museum and Menara Syahbandar (former warehouses of Oud Batavia)
  • Pasar Ikan (Fish Market)
  • Port of Sunda Kelapa (the original port of Oud Batavia)
  • Jin De Yuan Temple (Vihara Dharma Bhakti, the oldest Buddhist temple in Jakarta)
  • Petak Sembilan Chinese Street Market
  • Toko Merah (18th-century mansion of Governor General Baron Van Imhoff)
  • Wayang Museum (20th-century former Museum of Oud Batavia marking the site of the tombstone of Coen)
  • Hui Tek Bio Temple

• Early 20th-century revitalization
  • Bank Indonesia Museum (former Javasche Bank, the main bank of the Dutch East Indies)
  • Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China (Now owned by Bank Mandiri)
  • Jakarta Kota Post Office (One of a few samples of Nieuwe Zakelijkheid architecture in Indonesia)
  • Jakarta Kota Station (formerly known as BEOS station or Batavia Zuid Station)
  • Bank Mandiri Museum (former Netherlands Trading Society (Dutch: Nederlandsche Handelsmaatschappij), one of a few samples of Nieuwe Zakelijkheid architecture in Indonesia)

List of street names

Belos is a list of street names in Kota area. The list of road is limited to the road that is now located within the largest extend of the perimeter of the walled city of Batavia, both before and after the attack of Sultan Agung.

To avoid confusion, the official writing of Roman numeral is converted into an Arabic numeral.

Official name	Etymology	Former name	Former etymology	Latest image	Oldest image
Jalan Bank	Museum Bank Indonesia	Brugstraat (1650); Hospitaalstraat (1667)	The street had existed since 1632, but it was named Brugstraat later around 1650. At the same time the Inner Hospital was build to the south of the road, and in 1667 the road name became the Hospitaalstraat.
Jalan Cengkeh	Clove	Prinsenstraat
Jalan Cengkeh Dalam	Clove
Jalan Gedong Panjang		Gedong Pandjang
Jalan Jembatan Batu	Stone bridge		Originally a southern section of Batavia City wall where Gelderland bastion, Oranje bastion, Hollandia bastion and the Nieuwepoort was constructed around 1632.
Jalan Kali Besar Barat	West of Great River	Kali Besar-West
Jalan Kali Besar Timur	East of Great River	Kali Besar-Oost
Jalan Kemukus	Java pepper	Binen Kaaimanstraat
Jalan Ketumbar	Coriander
Jalan Kopi	Coffee	Utrechtsestraat	Dutch city of UTrecht
Jalan Kunir	Turmeric	Leeuwinne Gracht
Jalan Lada	Pepper
Jalan Lada Dalam	Inner Pepper
Jalan Malaka
Jalan Malaka 2		Orpa Gang?
Jalan Nelayan Timur
Jalan Paus Kel.
Jalan Petak Asem 1		Spinhuis Gracht or Rhinoceros Gracht (1650)	see Jalan Tiang Bendera 1, 2, 3, and 4
Jalan Pintu Besar Utara		Heerenstraat (circa 1627)	see Jalan Teh
Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan		Heerenstraat (circa 1627), Nieuwepoortstraat (circa 1632)	see Jalan Teh
Jalan Semut Ujung
Jalan Teh	Tea	Heerenstraat (circa 1627)	Planning of the Heerenstraat or Heerestraat (Gentleman's Street) had existed since 1622; at that time the street has not exist but a port named Heeren Poort which lies on the Vierde dwarsgrachts (a short-lived canal (1619-1632) to the south end of the planned street - the point of the port lies exactly at the junction of Jalan Pintu Besar Utara and Jalan Bank). At its most extended plan in 1627, Heerenstraat stretched north-to-south from the point at Jalan Nelayan Timur, stretching to Jalan Teh, Jalan Pintu Besar Utara, and Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan. It was the Broadway of Batavia until the first offensive of Batavia by Sultan Agung, King of the Mataram Sultanate, after which a wall was constructed around 1632 (along what is now Jalan Jembatan Batu), dividing Heerenstraat into the Heerenstraat (north of the wall, now Jalan Pintu Besar Utara) and Nieuwpoortstraat (now Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan).
Jalan Tiang Bendera	Flag pole	Maleische Gracht	The canal Maleische Gracht, established in 1650 to extend the Amsterdamsche Gracht, existed approximately between Jalan Tiang Bendera and the railway track.
Jalan Tiang Bendera 1, 2, 3 and 4	Flag pole	Spinhuis Gracht or Rhinoceros Gracht (1650)	After the old spinning house which lies facing the canal. The original street contains a canal called Spinhuis or Rhinoceros Gracht. The street layout on the east of the canal stretched south-to-north from Jalan Tiang Bendera 4, Tiang Bendera 1, Petak Asem 1, and a point at Jalan Paus Kel., while the street on the west of the canal stretched from Jalan Tiang Bendera 3, Tiang Bendera 2, Petak Asem 1, and a point at Jalan Paus Kel. The canal was refilled later in the 20th century.
Jalan Tiang Bendera 5	Flag pole	Pendjaringan

Gallery

• 
  View of the Stadhuisplein or Taman Fatahillah from the air in 1920s.
• 
  View of Kali Besar from the air in 1930s.
• 
  Aerial view of Stationsplein in 1930s.
• 
  View Kali Besar Canal (Groote Gracht), 1931.
• 
  Former Batavia city hall, 1932.
• 
  Stadhuisplein, now Taman Fatahillah in 1930s.
• 
  Stationsplein in Batavia, overlooking the NHM building (Museum Bank Mandiri).
• 
  BEOS Station in 1930s.
• 
  Red Shop/Toko Merah in 1932.
• 
  The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China in 1921.
• 
  former headquarters of the Javasche Bank, now Bank Indonesia's museum in 1938.
• 
  One of the few surviving VOC era residences in Roa Malacca, 1921.
• 
  Chinese shops and houses of Old Batavia in 1932, today's Jalan Kunir.