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Indonesians are once again celebrating Independence Day on Aug. 17 in the holy month of Ramadhan.
Traditionally, people put red and white flags and banners in their homes and hold community games such as balap karung (sack races), panjat pinang (greased-pole climbing) and makan kerupuk (cracker-eating contests).
This year’s celebration of Independence Day may again see more subdued festivities due to the fasting month. However, individuals and families can still enjoy national pride by visiting the city’s museums and monuments.
The National Monument
Monas square in Central Jakarta
Opens every day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Known locally as “Monas”, the 132-meter tower was built in 1960 to commemorate the struggle for Indonesian independence in 1945.
On the top of the tower is 14.5-ton bronze flame, with 35-kilogram gold coverage.
There are elevators to the top where visitors can get the best views of Jakarta.
Underneath the monument there is a small museum telling of the history of the nation’s struggle for independence.
The Drafting of the Proclamation Text Museum
Jl. Imam Bonjol 1, Central Jakarta
Tuesday-Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday and public holidays: closed
The museum occupies a building where the first president Sukarno and vice president Mohammad Hatta drafted the proclamation text on Aug. 16-17, 1945.
The building is also where the text was typed and read out for the public.
The Gedung Joang 45
(house of the struggle of 1945)
Jl. Menteng Raya 31, Central Jakarta
Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Monday and public holidays: closed
The museum houses objects relating to the nation’s struggling moments for independence. There are old sewing machines, presidential and vice presidential official cars known as REP 1 and REP 2, photos, paintings and statues of national heroes in 1945.
The National Awakening Museum
Jl. Abdul Rahman Saleh 26, Central Jakarta.
Tuesday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Monday and public holidays: closed
The museum occupies a building that hosted some historical moments.
Built in 1899, the neoclassical building used to be the Dutch medical school Stovia.
Between 1942 and 1973, the building hosted former Ambonese soldiers in the Koninklijk Nederlandsch Indisch Leger (KNIL) — the Dutch colonial Army.
There are hundreds of pictures of national heroes, heroines and other historical figures as well as dozens of paintings of national heroes and heroines. There are also reproductions of some old newspapers, busts of nine people believed to be the founders of Boedi Oetomo, several dioramas and medical and old war equipment. It is believed that Raden Soetomo and eight other students held a meeting there on May 20, 1908 to establish Boedi Oetomo.
Sumpah Pemuda Museum
(Youth Pledge Museum)
Jl. Kramat Raya 106, Central Jakarta
Tuesday-Sunday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Monday and public holidays: closed
Built in early 20th century, students from Stovia Dutch medical school rented the building as a dorm in 1908, and in 1927 it was used for activities by some youth movement organizations, where the then future president Sukarno frequented the meetings.
In October 1928, the building hosted the second Sumpah Pemuda congress.
Satria Mandala Military Museum
Jl. Gatot Subroto No. 14-16, South Jakarta
Tuesday-Sunday: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Monday and public holidays: closed.
Previously known as Wisma Yaso, it was used to be the residence of Sukarno’s Japanese wife Ratna Sari Dewi and the place where Sukarno was laid to rest before buried in Blitar, East Java.
Now a military museum, Satria Mandala displays various light and heavy ground and air weapons, as well as other equipment used in events and operations carried out by the Indonesian Military (TNI).
There is a diorama telling the history of the TNI and its participation in the country’s independence.
Outside the museum there are many vehicles, ranging from military jeeps, army trucks, tanks, amphibious tanks as well as cannons, rockets and fighter planes.
Marine Museum
Jl. Pasar Ikan 1, North Jakarta
Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Situated in the old Sunda Kelapa harbor area, the maritime museum attempts to give visitors pictures of seafaring traditions and the importance of the sea to Indonesia.
It exhibits models of fishing boats from most parts of Indonesia, navigation equipment, stone anchors used in some areas and the celebrated Pinisi schooner (a traditional fishing boat constructed of wood) of the Bugis people of South Sulawesi.
Fatahillah Museum
Jl. Taman Fatahillah 1, West Jakarta
Tuesday-Sunday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Monday and public holidays: closed.
The museum occupies a 1,300-square-meter former classical baroque city hall building that was built from 1707 to 1712. It is Jakarta’s biggest museum, known as the Jakarta museum of history or Batavia museum and located in the heart of Old Town Jakarta.
Relevant to its establishment years, the museum presents antique furniture from the 17th to the 19th century, mixing styles from Europe, China and Indonesia. It is equipped with an underground prison, which confined famous prisoners such as Prince Diponegoro.
The museum’s library contains 1,200 Dutch, Malay, Arabic and English books from the colonial era. One of the oldest books is a bible dated 1702.
Textile Museum
Jl. Aipda K.S Tubun 2 – 4, Central Jakarta
Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Monday and public holidays: closed
Founded in 1976, the textile museum is composed of several buildings. The main 19th century buildings display a traditional textiles collection from various regions in Indonesia.
Next to the main building is a cute house named Batik Gallery, which showcases a batik collection from all over the archipelago. A Javanese Joglo style architecture located at the back of the Batik Gallery is used as a batik workshop and another activity related to textile training.
At the back of the main building there are various plants for producing natural colors for textiles in a 2,000 square-meter garden.
