The History of Semarang Old Town, Built by the VOC

5 months ago 3

September 25, 2025 | 02:03 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On 20 September 2025, erstwhile Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani chose Semarang Old Town successful Central Java arsenic the destination for her play getaway. She shared her moments connected Instagram and reminisced astir her acquisition exploring the area.

The humanities territory was filled with visitors enjoying the lukewarm atmosphere, section culinary delights, and accepted Semarang music, Gambang Semarang. Sri Mulyani besides took a travel down representation lane, recalling Tawang Station, which she often utilized for traveling, and the elemental acquisition of riding a pedicab on Jalan Pemuda to Kalisari.

Semarang Old Town is located successful Tanjung Mas Village, North Semarang District. According to the authoritative website of the Semarang City Government, this country has go a humanities tourer destination. The distinctive European architecture has earned it the nickname Little Netherlands.

The History of Semarang Old Town

Semarang Old Town originated from the pact signed betwixt the Mataram Sultanate and the Dutch East India Company (VOC) connected 15 January 1678. At that time, Sultan Amangkurat II handed implicit Semarang to the VOC arsenic a signifier of outgo for their assistance successful suppressing the Trunojoyo rebellion. The metropolis began to make nether VOC control, including the operation of a fortress called Vijfhoef. This fortress served arsenic a subject halfway and a Dutch civilian settlement. Over time, the country extracurricular the fortress, peculiarly the eastbound part, began to flourish with the accomplishment of residential homes, offices, and authorities buildings.

From 1740 to 1743, the Geger Pecinan incident, a large absorption against the VOC's regularisation successful Java, occurred. After the absorption ended, a strategy of fortifications was built astir Semarang Old Town. However, arsenic it nary longer suited the accelerated municipality development, the antiaircraft fortress was dismantled successful 1824. To commemorate its existence, respective streets successful the Old Town were named according to the determination of the metropolis walls, specified arsenic Noorderwalstraat (North Wall Street, present Jalan Merak), Oosterwalstraat (East Wall Street, present Jalan Cendrawasih), Zuiderwalstraat (South Wall Street, present Jalan Kepodang), and Westerwalstraat (West Wall Street, present Jalan Mpu Tantular).

Colonial Buildings

Many colonial-era buildings successful Semarang Old Town are inactive lasting and person been repurposed. Among them are the erstwhile De Javasche Bank building, present known arsenic Semarang Creative Gallery, the erstwhile Dutch Government Court building, which became the residence of the Immanuel Church pastor, and aboriginal a restaurant. There is besides the Marba Building, the H. Spiegel Building, which present serves arsenic a barroom and bistro, and the Van Drop Building, which has been transformed into the Dream Museum Zone.

Other assemblage buildings see the Marabunta Building, formerly known arsenic the Staatschouwburg theater. It has since been repurposed arsenic a multipurpose building. Other historical buildings see the State Finance Building (Papak), which was erstwhile the City Hall, Bank Mandiri KC Mpu Tantular, antecedently Societiet De Harmonie, and the area's main icon, Blenduk Church, an 18th-century religion that is inactive utilized arsenic a spot of worship. Not to mention, the Berok Bridge (Gouvernementsbrug), built successful the 17th century, remains lasting arsenic a humanities witnesser to the agelong travel of Semarang Old Town.

Kinar Laimaura contributed to this article

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