Jakarta City Guide: 5 Museums to Visit to Honor Indonesia’s National Heroes

KOMPAS.com – Indonesia recently celebrated its National Heroes Day on Nov. 10 and visiting these five museums in Jakarta is sure to get you in a grateful mood.

Kompas.com has selected five museums in this Jakarta city guide to help visitors have a better understanding of Indonesia’s heroes and history.

1. Fatahillah Museum

One of the most famous museums in Jakarta is Museum Fatahillah or also known as the Jakarta History Museum located at Jalan Taman Fatahillah Nomor 1, Taman Sari, West Jakarta.

Situated in the vicinity of the Old City complex, visitors have access to an immersive experience of Indonesia’s olden days.

Read also: Indonesia Marks National Heroes Day by Naming 6 New National Heroes

Museum Fatahillah was once used as the Batavia City Hall in the 1700s, but today it features a range of collections and interest rooms including a replica of Prince Diponegoro’s room before his exile to Manado.

To explore the museum, visitors are required to use special sandals provided before touring around.

In the replica of Prince Diponegoro’s room are several paintings depicting the famous prince including a Raden Saleh artwork made in 1857.

In the painting, Prince Diponegoro is seen being captured by General Hendrik Markus de Kock.

Other paintings include a map of the prince’s travels including periods when he was apprehended up to his exile in Manado and Makassar.

In the new normal, this Jakarta attraction is open from Tuesday-Sunday from 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

ANTARA FOTO/Indrianto Eko Suwarso Mahasiswa mengunjungi Museum Sumpah Pemuda, di Jalan Kramat Raya No. 106, Jakarta, Selasa (27/10/2020). Jelang peringatan Hari Sumpah Pemuda pada tanggal 28 Oktober, pengelola mulai membenahi museum yang memiliki koleksi foto dan benda-benda bersejarah dalam pergerakan nasional kepemudaan dan menjadi tonggak sejarah perjuangan kemerdekaan RI. ANTARA FOTO/Indrianto Eko Suwarso/foc.

2. Youth Pledge Museum

The museum’s namesake can be traced back to when the Youth Pledge was first declared on Oct. 28, 1928, during which numerous national heroes called the place home.

Located at Jalan Kramat Raya Nomor 106A, Senen, Central Jakarta, the Sumpah Pemuda Museum in Jakarta was once a boarding house where Indonesia’s heroes Muhammad Yamin and Amir Sjarifoedin lived.