Kota Tua, Europe Miniature in Southeast Asia

Since the Dutch colonial era up to today, Kota Tua Jakarta has its own attraction. During the colonial era, this area was the center of the government. The Jakarta History Museum Building, which is a symbol of Kota Tua, was once the Batavia City Hall.

I feel like I was in Europe in 17 Century.  The buildings in here portrayed three countries harmony, namely Netherland, France, and England. There is no one like this in Southeast Asia

Meanwhile in front of that City Hall, there was a beautiful park which in the past time this region was the center of public activities in that time.

Even though it is no longer becoming the center of the government, Kota Tua still has its appeal as an attracting tourism site in the city.

All Kota Tua Infrastructures will Be Revitalized

The beauty of the area, which was once named Oud Batavia or Old Batavia, was also admitted by Europe sailor men and merchants who had visited Kota Tua in 16 Century, and they even dubbed it as the Pearl of the East or the Queen of the East, which resembled the city beauty in France or Amsterdam City in Netherland.

Now, after four centuries passed, Batavia has changed its name to Kota Tua. However, the beauty of the city still amazes every eye of the beholders. Entering the six-meter-tall and four-meter-wide-gate, the local or foreign tourists should take a walk as long as 500 meter to get to the center of this Dutch colonial legacy building. During the tour, the tourists’ eyes will be spoiled by the 16 Century Legacy Building, which is now has been transformed into old city theme restaurant and café.

“I feel like I was in Europe in 17 Century.  The buildings in here portrayed three countries harmony, namely Netherland, France, and England. There is no one like this in Southeast Asia,” said Prof. Dr. Wayan Kuchler, a German philosopher to beritajakarta.com, Minggu (6/1). 

Some parts and ornaments of the building, such as cannonball and water faucet become interesting objects and interesting locations for taking pictures by visitors.

Kuchler admitted to have known the exoticism about Kota Tua, but only this time he could visit it. He had read a short story about the legendary British explorer, James Cook, visited this city in 1770.

“I know about The Pearl of Orient or Mutiara dari Timur, from a short story about British explorer, James Cook," stated Kuchler.

Kota Tua is a strategic area in the city that can be reached by personal vehicles or public transportation. To go to Kota Tua, people can take TransJakarta bus corridor 1 Blok M – Kota or taking small-sized-public minivan passing that area such as Mikrolet M 12 Pasar Senen – Kota, M08 Tanah Abang Kota, M15 Tanjung Priok – Kota, or Patas AC 79 Kampung Rambutan – Kota or taking Bogor- Jakarta Kota Jabodetabek Train.

In other side, Kota Tua revitalization continues to be done by PT Pembangunan Kota Tua (Pemkot) developer. The President Director of PT Pemkot, Lin Che Wei, has registered Kota Tua as a world's cultural heritage city in UNESCO.

According to Wei, the registration is done to attract foreign tourists to see Kota Tua in the first hand. This thing certainly will help the process of Kota Tua revitalization to revive it as the center of public activities.

Wei assessed that the registered buildings are not merely the classic ones which identical with colonial architecture. He said there is one building which has ordinary architecture, but it has a story about multicultural culture in Kota Tua.

The result of that registration will be announced on June 11, 2014. PT Pemkot will also hold an event in Kota Tua to explain the building contest by expert team. He believes if Kota Tua can be the world’s cultural heritage city as it has been achieved by other four cities in the world.

“We are sure we can since our cultural heritage site is wider than Paramaribor (Suriname), Galle (Sri Lanka), and Willemstad (Karibia), which have been world’s cultural heritage cities,” explained Wei.