Spice warehouses
Seventeenth century.
Haryo Sutanto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Christophe95 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Haryo Sutanto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Haryo Sutanto — CC BY-SA 4.0
A museum in the old Dutch East India Company warehouses near Sunda Kelapa harbour, huge seventeenth-century buildings with thick walls and high timber roofs where spices, coffee and tea were stored before shipping to Europe, now telling Indonesia's maritime history. The halls hold models of traditional boats from across the archipelago, such as the famous Bugis pinisi schooners, navigation instruments, old maps and stories of seafarers and trade. Beside the museum stand an old lookout tower that once guided ships into port and remains of the old city wall. Tickets are a token fee. Part of the museum was damaged by fire in 2018 and later restored, and some sections may be closed. Combine it with nearby Sunda Kelapa harbour and its wooden schooners, and come in the morning. The area is working-class, so watch your belongings.
Seventeenth century.
Traditional models.
Once guiding ships.
Sunda Kelapa, north Jakarta
Sunda Kelapa Old HarbourThe port from which Jakarta was born, at the mouth of the Ciliwung River, the ma12 minutes walk
Wayang Museum (Puppet Museum)A museum devoted to wayang, Java's traditional puppet theatre, listed by UNESCO 13 minutes walk
Kota Tua, Jakarta Old TownJakarta's historic heart, the town called Batavia when the Dutch East India Comp13 minutes walk
Jakarta History Museum (Fatahillah Museum)The old city hall of Dutch Batavia, built in the early eighteenth century on Fat14 minutes walk
Bank Indonesia MuseumA museum in the old Dutch bank building in the old town, with a grand classical 16 minutes walkYes for maritime-history and old-architecture fans, as the buildings themselves are striking. Ask which sections are open first.