Jakarta, the Old and New

Jakarta at the intersection of past and present, a blending of a metropolitan and big village. It is not merely related to the old and new in terms of parts of the city regions but also in terms of trading and architectural constructions.

The city has a long history starting from its foundation in 1527. As early as the beginning of the 17th century, the city had a nice central business district (old CBD) around Jalan Kali Besar Barat stretching from Glodok to Sunda Kelapa port, in the western corner of the city, covering the distance of 2 kilometers long.

The Old Batavia Map

The spices were obviously the main commodities traded in this area during that period. Dutch galleons at Sunda Kelapa port brought these commodities to Europe and funds gained from the trading were used to establish a lot of companies in that area.

The harbor was located at Onrust, an island in Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand islands) around 15 km off the city port. The island has been named Onrust which means “unrest” because at that time the activities were done uninterruptible from dawn to dusk.

One of the important sites leading to the foundation of Jakarta is Sunda Kelapa, a nice 15 hectares trading harbors managed by the local ruler. Fatahillah, the Sultan of Demak, Central Java, who understood its strategic location, led an army of Demak attacked and occupied it in 1526. Its name was replaced with Jayakarta -city of victory on June 22, 1527, the date which finally was considered as the birthday of the city. After national independence, Batavia was changed to Jakarta, the shortening of Jayakarta.

The Dutch East India Company who kept eye on a strategic stepping stone into which they could enter into the island of Java attacked it in 1619, led by Jan Pieterzoon Coen. In the year 1620 above the ruins of Jayakarta, the Dutch built a new city under the name of Batavia.

Indigenous people dubbed as Betawi (derived from Batavianen) actually were descendants of mixed blood people of different tribes and nations. The city of Batavia in 1635 expanded to the west of the river above the former town of Jayakarta.

The city was complete with a system designed for defense in the form of walls and trenches around it. Due to urban planning, it was divided into blocks separated by canals. Batavia city development was completed in 1650. After the Japanese occupation in 1942, Batavia was renamed "Jakarta".

Today, areas considered as an old city are Sunda Kelapa, Fish Market, Luar Batang, Kali Besar, Fatahillah Park, and Glodok. The total width of the Old City was about 139 hectares. This area was the beginning of the future development of the city since the 14th century.

In the 18th century, this city was enlarged further to the south side of the area in the Fatahillah Park and Glodok now. As an old city, Jakarta has inherited its legacy of a past history of the old buildings with European and Chinese architecture from the 17th to early 20th century. This old town has been preserved as the area of restoration.

Jakarta governor has issued a decree that the total of more than 200 buildings, is under the care of Jakarta government. Any improvements in those buildings must get a special permit of the governor. Only after that, the improvement can be carried out but it must not change either the style or characteristics of those buildings. Today Jakarta has a new CBD located at Sudirman-Thamrin triangle, where various high rise buildings are located.