Fatahillah Museum

The Jakarta History Museum (also known as Fatahillah Museum) is housed in the former
City Hall located in the old part of the city now known as Jakarta Kota, some hundred
meters behind the port and warehouses of Sunda Kelapa. Originally called the Stadhuis,
this building was the administrative headquarters of the Dutch East India Company, and
later of the Dutch Government. Built in 1710 by Governor General van Riebeeck, this solid
building hides below it notorious dungeons and filthy water prisons. Most prisoners, both
Dutch rebels and Indonesian “natives” were publicly flogged, barbarically impaled and
executed on the square called the Stadhuisplein--now known as Fatihillah Square--while
the Dutch overlords looked down superciliously on the proceedings below from the portico
and windows above.Indonesia’s freedom fighter Javanese Prince Diponegoro, who was
treacherously arrested, was imprisoned here in 1830 before being banished to Manado in
North Sulawesi. Another freedom fighter earlier imprisoned here around 1670 was Untung
Suropati from East Java.In the center of the square is a fountain which served as water
supply for the colonial capital, Batavia, while to its north is a Portuguese cannon, believed to
be a font of fertility.

Today, the Jakarta History Museum displays the history of Jakarta from prehistoric days to
the founding of the town of Jayakarta in1527 by Prince Fatahillah of Banten, and through
Dutch colonization from the 16th. century onwards until Indonesia’s Independence in
1945.The collection includes a replica of the Tugu Inscription that dates back to the 5th
century under the reign of the great King Purnawarman, evidence that the center of the
Tarumanegara kingdom was located around the present day seaport of Tanjung
Priok.Further historical evidence of thriving Sunda Kelapa Harbour is a 16th. century map
and replica of the 1522 Padrao monument, commemorating the friendship treaty between
the Portuguese and the Sunda kingdom. Furthermore, maps and drawings show the
establishment of the City of Jayakarta in 1527 by Prince Fatahillah. While the rich collection
of Betawi and Colonial style furniture dating to the 17th, 18th and 19th century belongs to
one of the most complete in the world. This collection reflects the influences of various
cultural elements on the City of Batavia, namely from Europe, especially from the
Netherlands, from China and India as well as from Indonesia itself.And to bring more life
and activities to the Old Batavia square, today the Jakarta Government has organized
regular attractions involving local communities and their cultures. On Sundays, shows are
performed presenting the Zapin dance, a combination of Betawi and Middle Eastern
influences, the Barongsai Chinese lion dance, the Portuguese influenced keroncong music,
the typical Betawi Tanjidor music, batik fashion shows, vintage cars parades, food and
souvenirs and fireworks.