From Batavia to Baitullah: Discover Hajj History on Onrust Island

The Jakarta Maritime Museum Management Unit (UP) is holding the 2026 Onrust Archaeological Museum Temporary Exhibition, "From Batavia to Baitullah: Memories of Hajj in the Past", on Onrust Island, Untung Jawa Islands Urban Village, South Thousand Islands, from August 21, 2026, to January 1, 2027.

This exhibition allows us to see the hajj journey as more than just a spiritual journey

Jakarta Maritime Museum UP Head Mis'ari said the exhibition explores the history of hajj journeys in the past, when sea travel was the main mode of transportation. Through the exhibition, visitors can trace the long and challenging journeys of pilgrims from the Indonesian archipelago (Nusantara) to the Holy Land.

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"Onrust Island was an important part of the history of hajj journeys in Indonesia. From 1911 to 1933, the island served as a Hajj Quarantine Center under the Dutch East Indies government, both before pilgrims departed and after they returned," she said Thursday (8/20).

Mis'ari said the exhibition was developed in collaboration with institutions from Indonesia and abroad, including the Sultanate of Oman, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta's Faculty of Adab and Humanities, the University of Indonesia's Department of Archaeology, and other partners.

"Through artifact collections, photo archives, and historical narratives, we seek to bring memories of past hajj journeys back to life while introducing Onrust Island's strategic role in the global maritime network," she explained.

Meanwhile, Thousand Islands Assistant for Government and People's Welfare Purnomo welcomed the exhibition, saying it would help introduce the history of Onrust Island to a wider audience in greater depth.

"This exhibition allows us to see the hajj journey as more than just a spiritual journey. It was also a long journey that brought together cultures and knowledge. Onrust Island holds a wealth of history that the younger generation needs to know," he noted.

Purnomo added that the exhibition offers a valuable learning opportunity and encouraged the public to visit Onrust Island to explore Thousand Islands' historical attractions.

"We invite the public to come and explore this history. For transportation, visitors can take advantage of the Transportation Agency's affordable one-trip island-hopping package using its boats," he said.