Open for All: Jakarta City Hall Welcomes Visitors for Namu Balai Kota
Reported by Dessy Suciati | Translated by
Ever wondered what it’s like inside the Jakarta Governor’s Office? City Hall is welcoming visitors back through its signature "Namu Balai Kota" (City Hall Experience) program.
Help us keep the grounds spotless
Championed by Governor Pramono Anung, the initiative breaks down the walls of bureaucracy with interactive, transparent public spaces. Visitors can enjoy curated tours featuring everything from art exhibits and cultural shows to street eats, community meetups, and essential public services.
City Hall should belong to the people—that is Pramono's core message, highlighted by Jakarta’s Economic and Financial Assistant, Suharini Eliawati.
Let's Explore City Hall Through Namu Balai Kota"His vision is clear: City Hall must be an open, transparent space where any citizen can walk in and feel welcome," she expressed, Saturday (10/3).
Given City Hall's status as a protected heritage site, she reminded the crowd to treat the building with care.
"Help us keep the grounds spotless, and mind your hands around the historical pieces. Other than that, immerse yourselves in the tour and enjoy the visit," she added.
Beyond education, the program is about civic pride, according to Jakarta Jakarta Communications, Informatics, and Statistics Agency (Kominfotik) Head Marulina Dewi, giving residents a real stake in their city’s future.
"We're reimagining civic spaces—proving that public offices can welcome everyday residents with open arms and true warmth," she asserted.
From sitting at the Governor's desk to going live on camera, the tour is packed with behind-the-scenes access. Guests can visit the Jakarta Smart City hub or step into the shoes of a prime-time news anchor at the Beritajakarta studios.
The itinerary also spotlights the Pattern Room, City Hall’s dedicated creative and community hub.
"Our second-floor Pattern Room belongs to the community. Today, we opened it up to grassroots filmmakers who need a welcoming stage to screen their independent films," she added.
To join the tour, visitors simply need to register ahead of time for this multi-agency civic showcase.
Beyond sightseeing, City Hall doubles as a convenient one-stop public service hub for the day, offering:
• Passport processing (Directorate General of Immigration)
• Mobile driver's license renewals (Traffic Directorate of Polda Metro Jaya)
• Mobile library services (Jakarta Library and Archives Agency)
• Mobile vehicle tax counters/Samsat Keliling (Jakarta Regional Revenue Agency)
The day's packed civic agenda also features free health screenings, eco-friendly waste-sorting sessions, Bank Jakarta banking kiosks, and one-stop business licensing desks.
Rounding out the offerings, residents can update their civil IDs on the spot or learn essential firefighting basics with fire extinguisher demos.
Operating from 8 AM to 5 PM, the pilot event brought together students, government workers, and special guests from the Indonesian Care for Cancer Kids Foundation (YKAKI) for a memorable day at City Hall.
After wrapping up this pilot run and review, City Hall plans to host "Namu Balai Kota" as a bi-weekly weekend fixture for the public.
