JP/P.J.Leo

The names of areas in Jakarta have their own unique stories, including those that started as a pasar (market). Pasar areas named after days of the week can be traced back to the colonial era in the 1800s, as the colonial government only allowed landlord-built markets to operate one day in a week. Central Jakarta’s Tanah Abang and North Jakarta’s Koja market, for example, were originally markets that operated on Saturday and Tuesday respectively. Here are the origins of the names of five other pasar areas.

‘Pasar Senen’

Pasar Senen, the oldest market in Jakarta, was initially named Vincke Passer after its landlord Justinus Vinck.

However, as the market operated on a Monday, the locals commonly called it Pasar Senen (Monday market).

Senen is now the name of a district in Central Jakarta. The area is popular as a trading hub for vendors from across the archipelago. The market, located near Pasar Senen station, is well known for its wholesale centers for products like clothes, knock-up branded bags, watches and books.

Senen also has Grand Theater, one of the oldest cinemas that has still survived to this day. Although the “grand” aspect of the cinema has all but faded, it remains a landmark for the Senen area.

Some say Senen is also a Batak haven as it is the home of many lapos (food vendors) who sell Batak dishes like grilled pork and tuak (palm wine).

‘Pasar Minggu’

Pasar Minggu district in South Jakarta got its name from when it was a colonial era market that only operated on Sundays. Before 1920, Pasar Minggu market was located in the Ciliwung River Bank in Kampung Lio, Depok.

The center of the district today is both a market and a bus terminal under the same name.

Just like other big markets operated by city-owned PD Pasar Jaya, Pasar Minggu is dedicated to fulfilling the needs of the surrounding residents.

Pasar Minggu is notorious for its bad traffic, as a rather narrow street is forced to accommodate a growing commercial area.

‘Pasar Rebo’

Pasar Rebo district in East Jakarta covers five subdistricts — Pekayon, Kalisari, Kampung Baru, Cijantung and Gedong.

The center of Pasar Rebo (Wednesday market) still exists in the form of a two-story building market. The ground floor of the building sells vegetables and meat while the first floor is dedicated to clothing stores and gold.

Unlike most traditional markets, Pasar Rebo has a section for pork sellers.

‘Pasar Jumat’

Pasar Jumat (Friday market) is now known more as a name of a street in Lebak Bulus terminal in South Jakarta. The market itself no longer exists.

However, near the terminal some shops still operate and market activities can even be seen in the morning when vegetable vendors gather.

Pasar Jumat continues to diminish as some of its shops have been relocated due to the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project.

‘Pasar Jatinegara’

Before it was renamed Pasar Jatinegara, Jatinegara market had been known as Pasar Mester. It operated every Thursday during the colonial era and the name, Mester, derives from Meester Cornelius, the owner of the land at that time.

Jatinegara, now a district in East Jakarta, was named after Jatina Nagara, a symbol of resistance of the Banten kingdom against the colonial Dutch in the 17th century.

The name was given by Japan in 1942 as Mester was a Dutch name.

The market is now a wholesale market for clothes and other daily needs. If passing the area, commuters can still see buildings from the colonial era like Jatinegara station and a school.

It is not known why Jakartans did not refer to it as Pasar Kemis (Thursday Market).

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