Merdeka Square, Jakarta
Encyclopedia
Merdeka Square is a large square located in the center of Jakarta
, Indonesia
. The square is surrounded by important government buildings such as the Merdeka Palace, the Supreme Court and various governmental ministries. At its center stands the National Monument (Monumen Nasional). Merdeka Square measures one square kilometre in area. During the colonial Dutch East Indies
era the square was called Koningsplein (King's square). Merdeka
is Indonesian
word for freedom or independence
.
government moved their center of administration from old Batavia (now Kota) to Weltevreden (now Central Jakarta
), they built several important buildings including the square. There were two main squares in Weltevreden: Buffelsveld and Waterlooplein (now Lapangan Banteng). The squares began to took shape during Daendels'
rule in early 19th century; Waterlooplein became the main parade and ceremonial square, while the Buffelsveld (buffalo field) was renamed Champs de Mars due to French influence, and used as a military exercise field. In 1818, during British rule in the East Indies under Stamford Raffles
, the square's name was changed into Koningsplein (King's square) at the time the Governor-General's residence moved to a new palace, now known as Merdeka Palace. The colonial government built athletic tracks, a stadium and sports facilities on Koningsplein. The locals called the square Lapangan Gambir, after the name of a plant which grows around the field. The Lapangan Gambir became the location of Pasar Gambir, a Pasar Malam (night market) fair
and festival to commemorate Queen Wilhelmina's
birthday in 1906. Since 1921 Pasar Gambir was held annually, turning into the annual modern Jakarta Fair
. The square's name remained the same throughout colonial Dutch East Indies era until the Japanese invasion in 1942.
, the square was named Lapangan Ikada (acronym of Ikatan Atletik Djakarta or Jakarta Athletic Bond). The proclamation of Indonesian independence was originally intended to be staged at Lapangan Ikada. It was however moved to a house in Jalan Pegangsaan (now Jalan Proklamasi). On the 19th of September 1945, Sukarno
held his Indonesian independence and anti-colonialism/imperialism speech, during Rapat Akbar or grand meeting.
Sukarno desired that the Indonesian people and the young independent nation had something to be proud of, a monument to commemorate the struggle for independence. So he initiated the construction of National Monument (Indonesian
:Monumen Nasional or Monas) in 1961, but it was only completed in 1976. His ambition was to make the Monas the tallest building in Jakarta, higher than Borobudur
and larger than the Eiffel Tower
. The athletic tracks and sports facilities were demolished to make way for the construction of the monument.
The Merdeka Square is crossed by four diagonal streets which form an "X" with the National Monument at its center. The street is called Jalan Silang Monas and separates the square into four parts: North, East, South, and West parks. The north, east and west park remained a park, while the southern one was developed into a building complex. The south park became the fairground for Jakarta Fair
from 1968 to 1992, while the southwest corner of the south park was used as Taman Ria Jakarta or Jakarta amusement park
.
The design of the parks stayed relatively unchanged from the 70's to mid 90's until the ongoing renovation in the 2000s, which gave the Merdeka square its present look. The aim was to return the function of Merdeka Square as an open space and green area. In the early 90's the fairground and the amusement park in the southern park were demolished had been given the old park function once again. The road surrounding the monument is not accessible to motorized traffic.
In 2002, after Megawati
was elected president, the Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso built a high fence with gates and guards to enclose the entire square. While visitors can access the square without charge, beggars, vendors, homeless and other social groups were excluded. An army encampment has been set up within the compound to enforce the new rules.
around the monument.
The Merdeka square consists of two zones:
There are four parks in Merdeka Square according to the cardinal points:
Merdeka square is the heart of Jakarta
as well as the centre of Indonesia. Many important government and cultural buildings is located around this central park of Jakarta.
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. The square is surrounded by important government buildings such as the Merdeka Palace, the Supreme Court and various governmental ministries. At its center stands the National Monument (Monumen Nasional). Merdeka Square measures one square kilometre in area. During the colonial Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
era the square was called Koningsplein (King's square). Merdeka
Merdeka
Merdeka is a word in the Indonesian and Malay language meaning Independent or freedom. It is derived from the Sanskrit Maharddhika meaning "rich, prosperous and powerful". In the Malay archipelago, this term had acquired the meaning of a freed slave...
is Indonesian
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
word for freedom or independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
.
History
Koningsplein
In the late 18th century when the Dutch East IndiesDutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
government moved their center of administration from old Batavia (now Kota) to Weltevreden (now Central Jakarta
Central Jakarta
Central Jakarta is one of the five cities which form Jakarta, Indonesia. It had 898,883 inhabitants at the 2010 Census.Central Jakarta is the smallest in area and population of the five cities of Jakarta. It is the administrative and political center of Jakarta and Indonesia...
), they built several important buildings including the square. There were two main squares in Weltevreden: Buffelsveld and Waterlooplein (now Lapangan Banteng). The squares began to took shape during Daendels'
Herman Willem Daendels
Herman Willem Daendels was a Dutch politician who served as the 36th Governor General of the Dutch East Indies between 1808 and 1811....
rule in early 19th century; Waterlooplein became the main parade and ceremonial square, while the Buffelsveld (buffalo field) was renamed Champs de Mars due to French influence, and used as a military exercise field. In 1818, during British rule in the East Indies under Stamford Raffles
Stamford Raffles
Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, FRS was a British statesman, best known for his founding of the city of Singapore . He is often described as the "Father of Singapore"...
, the square's name was changed into Koningsplein (King's square) at the time the Governor-General's residence moved to a new palace, now known as Merdeka Palace. The colonial government built athletic tracks, a stadium and sports facilities on Koningsplein. The locals called the square Lapangan Gambir, after the name of a plant which grows around the field. The Lapangan Gambir became the location of Pasar Gambir, a Pasar Malam (night market) fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
and festival to commemorate Queen Wilhelmina's
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...
birthday in 1906. Since 1921 Pasar Gambir was held annually, turning into the annual modern Jakarta Fair
Jakarta Fair
Jakarta Fair is a fair held annually in Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran, Jakarta, Indonesia, around June to July. It features exhibitions, trade promotions, shoppings, music performances, various shows, amusement rides, and food festival. The fair is meant to celebrate the anniversary of...
. The square's name remained the same throughout colonial Dutch East Indies era until the Japanese invasion in 1942.
Lapangan Ikada
In 1942, during the Japanese occupation of IndonesiaJapanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
, the square was named Lapangan Ikada (acronym of Ikatan Atletik Djakarta or Jakarta Athletic Bond). The proclamation of Indonesian independence was originally intended to be staged at Lapangan Ikada. It was however moved to a house in Jalan Pegangsaan (now Jalan Proklamasi). On the 19th of September 1945, Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
held his Indonesian independence and anti-colonialism/imperialism speech, during Rapat Akbar or grand meeting.
Medan Merdeka
In 1949 Sukarno changed the name of Ikada field to Medan Merdeka. A design competition was held in 1959, followed by a second competition in 1960, but Sukarno did not accept any of the designs, and no winner was announced. Instead Sukarno, who had previously studied architecture, asked architects to refine sketches made by himself. His layout for Merdeka Square was based on a plan initially developed in 1892 with diagonal streets radiating from the monument.Sukarno desired that the Indonesian people and the young independent nation had something to be proud of, a monument to commemorate the struggle for independence. So he initiated the construction of National Monument (Indonesian
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
:Monumen Nasional or Monas) in 1961, but it was only completed in 1976. His ambition was to make the Monas the tallest building in Jakarta, higher than Borobudur
Borobudur
Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
and larger than the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
. The athletic tracks and sports facilities were demolished to make way for the construction of the monument.
The Merdeka Square is crossed by four diagonal streets which form an "X" with the National Monument at its center. The street is called Jalan Silang Monas and separates the square into four parts: North, East, South, and West parks. The north, east and west park remained a park, while the southern one was developed into a building complex. The south park became the fairground for Jakarta Fair
Jakarta Fair
Jakarta Fair is a fair held annually in Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran, Jakarta, Indonesia, around June to July. It features exhibitions, trade promotions, shoppings, music performances, various shows, amusement rides, and food festival. The fair is meant to celebrate the anniversary of...
from 1968 to 1992, while the southwest corner of the south park was used as Taman Ria Jakarta or Jakarta amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
.
The design of the parks stayed relatively unchanged from the 70's to mid 90's until the ongoing renovation in the 2000s, which gave the Merdeka square its present look. The aim was to return the function of Merdeka Square as an open space and green area. In the early 90's the fairground and the amusement park in the southern park were demolished had been given the old park function once again. The road surrounding the monument is not accessible to motorized traffic.
In 2002, after Megawati
Megawati Sukarnoputri
In this Indonesian name, the name "Sukarnoputri" is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name "Megawati"....
was elected president, the Governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso built a high fence with gates and guards to enclose the entire square. While visitors can access the square without charge, beggars, vendors, homeless and other social groups were excluded. An army encampment has been set up within the compound to enforce the new rules.
Design
The current design is mainly based on the site plan from the 60's that incorporated diagonal crossed streets that separated four cardinal parks with the National Monument in the center. A renovation began in mid 90's for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Indonesian Independence in 1995, and continued well to the 2000s. The renovation moved the roundabout street further from the monument as it was feared that the vibrations from the passing vehicles would shakes and disturbs the monument foundation. However later decided that the vehicles should be prohibited to enter the square altogether. The further roundabout create a larger central garden around the monument. The ashpalt road was changed to French stone pavement and created a grand plazaPlaza
Plaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be...
around the monument.
The Merdeka square consists of two zones:
- Taman Medan Merdeka (Medan Merdeka Park). The large trees, reflecting ponds and fountains are located in this zone. The zone span from the fences on the outer rim of the park to the pedestrian path around the park.
- Ruang Agung (The Grand Space). It is the grand space to enhance the view of National Monument. There are no large trees or any visual obstructions allowed to remain in this zone. It is located from the pedestrian path to the National Monument in the center. It consists of grass fields, stone paved grand plaza, and a central garden around the monument filled with colorful flowers and decorative plants.
There are four parks in Merdeka Square according to the cardinal points:
- Taman Medan Merdeka Utara (North Merdeka Park). The entrance to the tunnel that leads to the National Monument is located on this north park. The statue of DiponegoroDiponegoroDiponegoro , also known as Dipanegara, was a Javanese prince who opposed the Dutch colonial rule. He played an important role in the Java War...
riding a horse and a bust statue of Indonesian poet Chairil AnwarChairil AnwarChairil Anwar was an Indonesian poet and member of the "1945 generation" of writers. He is estimated to have written 96 works, including 70 individual poems....
also located in this area. - Taman Medan Merdeka Timur (East Merdeka Park). Immediately located near the Gambir StationGambir StationGambir Station is a mainline railway station in Gambir, Central Jakarta, Indonesia. It is located on eastern side of Merdeka Square. It was built by the colonial Dutch before World War II but renovated in the 1990s...
. The reflecting pond and the statue of Kartini, Indonesian heroine of women emancipation, donated by Japanese governmentGovernment of JapanThe government of Japan is a constitutional monarchy where the power of the Emperor is very limited. As a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the 1947 constitution as "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and other elected...
that originally stood in front of Taman Suropati in Menteng is relocated here. - Taman Medan Merdeka Selatan (South Merdeka Park). A nationalistic monument is located here. The spotted deerChitalThe chital or cheetal , also known as chital deer, spotted deer or axis deer is a deer which commonly inhabits wooded regions of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and in small numbers in Pakistan...
park is located on southeast corner. The south park also displays unique plants as the symbol of the 33 Indonesian provincesProvinces of IndonesiaThe province is the highest tier of local government subnational entity in Indonesia. Each province has its own local government, headed by a governor, and has its own legislative body...
. The IRTI parking lot, souvenir and foodstalls for National Monument visitors is located in this southern park. - Taman Medan Merdeka Barat (West Merdeka Park). The dancing illuminated fountain is located here. The fountain show with music is performed every weekend nights.
In vicinity
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
as well as the centre of Indonesia. Many important government and cultural buildings is located around this central park of Jakarta.
North
- State Secretariat and Bina Graha
- Merdeka Palace
- Supreme Court of Justice
- Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Army Headquarters
- Istiqlal MosqueIstiqlal MosqueIstiqlal Mosque, or Masjid Istiqlal, in Jakarta, Indonesia is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia in terms of capacity to accommodate people and building structure. This national mosque of Indonesia was built to commemorate Indonesian independence, as nation's gratitude for Islam's blessings; the...
(Northeast corner)
East
- Gambir StationGambir StationGambir Station is a mainline railway station in Gambir, Central Jakarta, Indonesia. It is located on eastern side of Merdeka Square. It was built by the colonial Dutch before World War II but renovated in the 1990s...
- PertaminaPertaminaPertamina is an Indonesian government-owned corporation which extracts and refines the country's oil and gas reserves. It was created in August 1968 by the merger of Pertamin and Permina...
Headquarters - Army Strategic Reserve Command (KOSTRAD)KostradKostrad is the Indonesian Army's Strategic Reserve Command. Kostrad is a Corps level command which has up to 35,000 troops...
Headquarters - Immanuel Church
- National Gallery
South
- Embassy of United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Vice President's Palace
- Jakarta City Hall, and Governor's office
- Ministry of Government-Owned Bussinesses
West
- IndosatIndosatPT Indosat Tbk., formerly known as PT Indonesian Satellite Corporation Tbk. is a provider of telecommunication services in Indonesia. It is the third largest telecommunication company for mobile services in Indonesia after defeat by XL Axiata...
Headquarters - Ministry of Culture and Tourism
- Ministry of Defense and Indonesian National Armed Forces Headquarters
- National Museum of Indonesia
- Ministry of Communication and Information
- Ministry of Transportation
- Court of Constitution
- RRIRadio Republik IndonesiaRadio Republik Indonesia is the state radio network of Indonesia. The organization is a public broadcasting service. It is a national radio station that broadcasts all over Indonesia and abroad to serve all Indonesian citizens throughout the nation and overseas. RRI also provides information about...
(Radio of the Republic of Indonesia) Headquarters