Istana Merdeka
Encyclopedia
Merdeka Palace is a palace in Central Jakarta
, Indonesia
, used as the official residence
of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. The palace is located directly in front of Merdeka Square
and The National Monument. The palace previously served as a residence for the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
during the colonial era. In 1949, the palace was renamed Merdeka Palace, "merdeka
" is an Indonesian
word for "freedom" or "independence". Merdeka Palace together with Negara Palace
, along with a few structures in the complex, such as Wisma Negara , Sekretariat Negara , and Bina Graha Building make up the Presidential Palace complex; the center of Indonesian executive
authority.
was originally built as the residence for a Dutch businessman, J. A. van Braam. Rijswijk and Molenvliet (presently known as Harmoni), the location chosen as the time was the most exclusive neighborhood in Weltevreden area, the New Batavia. During its early years, only the State Palace stood in this complex. The State Palace was built in 1796 facing north toward Ciliwung river
bank, during the era of Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten
as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
, and completed in 1804.
In 1820, this mansion was rented and then sold to the Dutch
Colonial Government in 1821. The government used this building as the center of all administration and as the official residence
of the Governor-General during a stay in Batavia, for occasions or events such as the Indies Council Meeting held every Wednesday. The Governor-Generals preferred to live in Bogor Palace (Paleis te Buitenzorg) in Bogor
(Buitenzorg), due to the cooler and more adaptable temperatures in the hillsides of Bogor.
The mansion of van Braam was bought due because of a need for the Dutch government to centralize power. However, Daendels Palace (currently Treasury Department) in Lapangan Banteng (formerly known as Waterloo Square) was not completed yet. Upon the completion of Daendels Palace, plans to centralize power changed, and the mansion of van Braam officially became the residence of the governor-general, and Daendels Palace housed administrative buildings. Hotel van den Gouverneur-Generaal (Hotel of the Governor-General) became the official name of the van Braam mansion.
During the Colonial era, important events took place in this building. Some of which include the declaration of the cultuur stelsel system by the Governor Graaf van den Bosch, and the ratification ceremony of the Linggadjati Agreement
on March 25, 1947.
). The new Governor General palace at Koningsplein was also known as Istana Gambir (Gambir Palace).
After the war of Indonesian revolution from 1945–1949 and after the Netherlands official recognition of Indonesian independence, the Indonesian declaration of independence from the Dutch in 1949 was announced in Gambir Palace. During the ceremony, the Royal Dutch flag was substituted with the Flag of Indonesia
. Many spectators were in jubilation when the flag took to the sky, and yelled "Merdeka
! (Freedom!)". From that moment, Istana Gambir became known as Istana Merdeka.
One day after the ceremony, President Sukarno
and his family arrived from Yogyakarta
. For the first time, the President of the Republic of Indonesia stayed at Freedom Palace. The first Independence Day annual ceremony was held in the Istana Merdeka in 1950. Since the Dutch Colonial rule, Japanese Invasion and Indonesian Republic
fifteen Governor-Generals, three Japanese commanders, and one Indonesian President has taken residence in the Freedom Palace.
style with doric column
, popular amongst Europeans at the time of construction. During the early days, the 3.375 m² building had two stories. In 1848, the upper floor was demolished, and the lower expanded to accommodate more individuals, thus a more formal portrayal. After the 1873 reconstruction, the building has since remain unchanged.
After the Indonesian independence, the Merdeka Palace complex was expanded to include not only Istana Negara (State Palace), but also to construct Wisma Negara, Sekretariat Negara (State Sectreatiat) and Bina Graha. Several colonial buildings and residences were demolished in the Weltevreden area to make way for today's State Palace complex.
In 1961 national monument Monas was built in Merdeka square
so that the Freedom Palace would have its facade in view of the newly built monument.
The Merdeka Palace serves as an official venue for state events; such as the Independence Day ceremony, welcoming ceremony of honorable guests, reception of Letters of Credence from foreign ambassadors, installation of ministers, ambassadors, ceremonial opening of national meetings, national and international congress and official state banquet.
The administrative role that the palace once occupied has been shifted to the State Palace building and State Secretariat, while the Merdeka Palace remains a symbolic vestige of authority.
The Merdeka Palace has a several rooms such as, First Chamber, Residential Chamber, Guest Room, Banquet Room, Reception Hall, Regalia Room, Office, Bed Chamber, Living Room, and Kitchen.
at the facade
of the palace is often used as ceremonial podium
where the president and VIPs sit.
The frontmost room is called Ruang Kredensial (credential
room), it is the room where president receives letters of credence from foreign ambassador
s stationed in Indonesia. The room is also used for signing the stately letters of cooperation agreements with foreign nations, signed by respective officials and witnessed by each heads of the states. During the independence day ceremony, the president receives compliments from foreign ambasadors.
Ruang Jepara (Jepara room) was a former study room of Sukarno
, and named after Jepara
, a town in Central Java
, because the furniture and ornaments in this room are dominated by wood carving
art from Jepara.
Right across Jepara room is Ruang Raden Saleh (Raden Saleh room), named after the famous Indonesian painter Raden Saleh Syarief Boestaman
. There are five Raden Saleh's masterpiece paintings in this room.
The largest room is Ruang Resepsi (reception
hall), usually used for state banquets, state gala dinners, national meetings, and state cultural performances. In this room there are two masterpiece paintings of Basuki Abdullah
. On the eastern wall hangs "Pergiwa Pergiwati" a painting theme from Mahabharata
, and on the west wall hangs the Javanese "Jaka Tarub" painting.
The last room is Ruang Bendera Pusaka (the heirloom flag room), or Regalia room, used to store "Bendera Pusaka
", the heirloom Indonesian flag that was raised the first time during Indonesian Declaration of Independence
in 17 August 1945.
After Sukarno, the following presidents no longer use the palace as the presidential residence, although it is still the official presidential residence. The palace's offices are still in use by the current Indonesian president. During the Suharto administration, Suharto preferred to reside in his own house at Jalan Cendana, Menteng
, while the palace and Bina Graha only served as his office. The palace once again became the official presidential residence during the Abdurrahman Wahid
and Megawati administrations. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
sometimes resides in Merdeka Palace, however just like Suharto, he often prefers to reside in his own house, at Puri Cikeas, Cibubur, south of 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...
, 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...
, used as the official residence
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. The palace is located directly in front of Merdeka Square
Merdeka Square, Jakarta
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...
and The National Monument. The palace previously served as a residence for the Governor-General of the 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....
during the colonial era. In 1949, the palace was renamed Merdeka Palace, "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 an 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". Merdeka Palace together with Negara Palace
Istana Negara, Jakarta
Istana Negara and Istana Merdeka are two palaces in the same complex located between Veteran street and North Medan Merdeka street in Central Jakarta, they have a total area of 68,000 m²...
, along with a few structures in the complex, such as Wisma Negara , Sekretariat Negara , and Bina Graha Building make up the Presidential Palace complex; the center of Indonesian executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
authority.
Negara Palace
The building today known as Istana NegaraIstana Negara, Jakarta
Istana Negara and Istana Merdeka are two palaces in the same complex located between Veteran street and North Medan Merdeka street in Central Jakarta, they have a total area of 68,000 m²...
was originally built as the residence for a Dutch businessman, J. A. van Braam. Rijswijk and Molenvliet (presently known as Harmoni), the location chosen as the time was the most exclusive neighborhood in Weltevreden area, the New Batavia. During its early years, only the State Palace stood in this complex. The State Palace was built in 1796 facing north toward Ciliwung river
Ciliwung River
Ciliwung is a river that passes through Jakarta, Indonesia. The river flows from its source near Puncak on the highlands of West Java to the Jakarta Bay....
bank, during the era of Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten
Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten
Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1796 until 1801. He was the last Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company, which was dissolved, bankrupt in 1799, but he remained in post as the Dutch state took over ruling its territories in the Indies...
as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
The Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies represented the Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies between 1610 and Dutch recognition of the independence of Indonesia in 1949.The first Governors-General were appointed by the Dutch East India Company...
, and completed in 1804.
In 1820, this mansion was rented and then sold to the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Colonial Government in 1821. The government used this building as the center of all administration and as the official residence
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
of the Governor-General during a stay in Batavia, for occasions or events such as the Indies Council Meeting held every Wednesday. The Governor-Generals preferred to live in Bogor Palace (Paleis te Buitenzorg) in Bogor
Bogor
Bogor is a city on the island of Java in the West Java province of Indonesia. The city is located in the center of the Bogor Regency , 60 kilometers south of the Indonesian capital Jakarta...
(Buitenzorg), due to the cooler and more adaptable temperatures in the hillsides of Bogor.
The mansion of van Braam was bought due because of a need for the Dutch government to centralize power. However, Daendels Palace (currently Treasury Department) in Lapangan Banteng (formerly known as Waterloo Square) was not completed yet. Upon the completion of Daendels Palace, plans to centralize power changed, and the mansion of van Braam officially became the residence of the governor-general, and Daendels Palace housed administrative buildings. Hotel van den Gouverneur-Generaal (Hotel of the Governor-General) became the official name of the van Braam mansion.
During the Colonial era, important events took place in this building. Some of which include the declaration of the cultuur stelsel system by the Governor Graaf van den Bosch, and the ratification ceremony of the Linggadjati Agreement
Linggadjati Agreement
The Linggadjati Agreement, also known as the Cheribon Agreement, was a political accord concluded on 15 November 1946 by the Dutch administration and the unilaterally declared Republic of Indonesia. Negotiations took place 11–12 November...
on March 25, 1947.
Merdeka Palace
During the mid 19th century, the palace does not suffice the accommodation of its administrative purposes, and under orders from J.W. van Lansberge, a new building was built within the complex in 1873 during the Governor General Loudon administration, and finished in 1879 during Governor General Johan Willem van Lansberge administration. This neoclasical building, designed by Drossares, was built in southern part of the complex directly facing Koningsplein (now Merdeka SquareMerdeka Square, Jakarta
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...
). The new Governor General palace at Koningsplein was also known as Istana Gambir (Gambir Palace).
After the war of Indonesian revolution from 1945–1949 and after the Netherlands official recognition of Indonesian independence, the Indonesian declaration of independence from the Dutch in 1949 was announced in Gambir Palace. During the ceremony, the Royal Dutch flag was substituted with the Flag of Indonesia
Flag of Indonesia
The national flag of Indonesia, which is known as Sang Saka Merah-Putih or Bendera Merah-Putih or simply Merah-Putih in Indonesian, is based on the banner of the 13th century Majapahit Empire in East Java...
. Many spectators were in jubilation when the flag took to the sky, and yelled "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...
! (Freedom!)". From that moment, Istana Gambir became known as Istana Merdeka.
One day after the ceremony, President 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...
and his family arrived from Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta (city)
Yogyakarta is a city in the Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. It is renowned as a centre of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. Yogyakarta was the Indonesian capital during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to...
. For the first time, the President of the Republic of Indonesia stayed at Freedom Palace. The first Independence Day annual ceremony was held in the Istana Merdeka in 1950. Since the Dutch Colonial rule, Japanese Invasion and Indonesian Republic
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...
fifteen Governor-Generals, three Japanese commanders, and one Indonesian President has taken residence in the Freedom Palace.
Evolution of the Merdeka Palace
The architecture of the Merdeka Palace was done in a neo-classicalNeoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style with doric column
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
, popular amongst Europeans at the time of construction. During the early days, the 3.375 m² building had two stories. In 1848, the upper floor was demolished, and the lower expanded to accommodate more individuals, thus a more formal portrayal. After the 1873 reconstruction, the building has since remain unchanged.
After the Indonesian independence, the Merdeka Palace complex was expanded to include not only Istana Negara (State Palace), but also to construct Wisma Negara, Sekretariat Negara (State Sectreatiat) and Bina Graha. Several colonial buildings and residences were demolished in the Weltevreden area to make way for today's State Palace complex.
In 1961 national monument Monas was built in Merdeka square
Merdeka Square, Jakarta
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...
so that the Freedom Palace would have its facade in view of the newly built monument.
The Merdeka Palace in Present Day
The administrative role that the palace once occupied has been shifted to the State Palace building and State Secretariat, while the Merdeka Palace remains a symbolic vestige of authority.
The Merdeka Palace has a several rooms such as, First Chamber, Residential Chamber, Guest Room, Banquet Room, Reception Hall, Regalia Room, Office, Bed Chamber, Living Room, and Kitchen.
The palace parts and rooms
On the front lawn of Merdeka Palace stands a 17 metres tall flagpole and fountain. The annual flag raising ceremony takes place during Indonesian Independence ceremony every August 17. Also during the Independence ceremony, the verandahVerandah
A veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure...
at the facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
of the palace is often used as ceremonial podium
Podium
A podium is a platform that is used to raise something to a short distance above its surroundings. It derives from the Greek πόδι In architecture a building can rest on a large podium. Podia can also be used to raise people, for instance the conductor of an orchestra stands on a podium as do many...
where the president and VIPs sit.
The frontmost room is called Ruang Kredensial (credential
Credential
A credential is an attestation of qualification, competence, or authority issued to an individual by a third party with a relevant or de facto authority or assumed competence to do so....
room), it is the room where president receives letters of credence from foreign ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
s stationed in Indonesia. The room is also used for signing the stately letters of cooperation agreements with foreign nations, signed by respective officials and witnessed by each heads of the states. During the independence day ceremony, the president receives compliments from foreign ambasadors.
Ruang Jepara (Jepara room) was a former study room of 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...
, and named after Jepara
Jepara
Jepara is a small town in the province of Central Java, Indonesia.Jepara is on the north coast of Java, north-east of Semarang, not far from Mount Muria. It is also the main town of the district of Jepara, which has a population of about 1 million. Jepara is famous as the center of Javanese teak...
, a town in Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
, because the furniture and ornaments in this room are dominated by wood carving
Wood carving
Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object...
art from Jepara.
Right across Jepara room is Ruang Raden Saleh (Raden Saleh room), named after the famous Indonesian painter Raden Saleh Syarief Boestaman
Raden Saleh
Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman is one of the best known painters from Indonesia and a pioneer of modern Indonesian art....
. There are five Raden Saleh's masterpiece paintings in this room.
The largest room is Ruang Resepsi (reception
Party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well....
hall), usually used for state banquets, state gala dinners, national meetings, and state cultural performances. In this room there are two masterpiece paintings of Basuki Abdullah
Basuki Abdullah
Basuki Abdullah was an Indonesian painter. His work is characterized as realism and has been exhibited in the Indonesian National Gallery. He received formal training in The Hague. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia he was an art teacher...
. On the eastern wall hangs "Pergiwa Pergiwati" a painting theme from Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, and on the west wall hangs the Javanese "Jaka Tarub" painting.
The last room is Ruang Bendera Pusaka (the heirloom flag room), or Regalia room, used to store "Bendera Pusaka
Bendera Pusaka
The Bendera Pusaka Sang Saka Merah Putih was the first Indonesian flag. Sewn by Sukarno's wife Fatmawati, it was raised for the first time when Sukarno proclaimed Indonesia's independence on 17 August 1945...
", the heirloom Indonesian flag that was raised the first time during Indonesian Declaration of Independence
Indonesian Declaration of Independence
The Proclamation of Indonesian Independence was read at 10.00 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 1945. The declaration marked the start of the diplomatic and armed-resistance of the Indonesian National Revolution, fighting against the forces of the Netherlands until the latter officially acknowledged...
in 17 August 1945.
After Sukarno, the following presidents no longer use the palace as the presidential residence, although it is still the official presidential residence. The palace's offices are still in use by the current Indonesian president. During the Suharto administration, Suharto preferred to reside in his own house at Jalan Cendana, Menteng
Menteng
Menteng is a subdistrict of Central Jakarta, one of the administrative city which forms the special capital territory of Jakarta, Indonesia.The subdistrict is best known as the location of the Menteng residential area, a new urban design developed in the 1910s to become a residential area for Dutch...
, while the palace and Bina Graha only served as his office. The palace once again became the official presidential residence during the Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
and Megawati administrations. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....
sometimes resides in Merdeka Palace, however just like Suharto, he often prefers to reside in his own house, at Puri Cikeas, Cibubur, south of Jakarta.
See also
- State Palace (Indonesia)
- Bogor Palace
- Vice Presidential Palace (Indonesia)
- Official residenceOfficial residenceAn official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
External links
- Istana Merdeka profile (in Indonesian)
- Istana Merdeka history (in Indonesian)