- Address: Jl. Ps. Ikan No.1, RT.11 / RW.4, Penjaringan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta
- Phone: +62 21 6693406
- Website: www.museumbahari.org
- Year of foundation: 1977
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00
The sea is one of the most important components of life and economy of Indonesia , which is reflected in its naval museum, which is located in Jakarta . There are more than 1800 different collections, connected directly with the sea history, modernity, as well as with the unique flora and fauna of the Indian Ocean.
Location of the Maritime Museum in Jakarta
The Maritime Museum is located in the north of Jakarta, on the territory of the Sunda Kelapa harbor. For him were given the historic buildings of old warehouses, where in the period of the East India Company spices were stored.
The warehouses themselves are of no less interest than the museum's collections. Originally they were built in the delta of the Chiliwong River. Construction lasted more than a century: from 1652 to 1771 as a result, several blocks were created on the west coast and several - on the east. On the one side of the river, spices were stored, such as muscat, fragrant, black, white and red pepper, cinnamon, etc. On the other hand, the warehouses were given for tea, coffee and local fabrics, which were especially appreciated in Europe.
Now on the doors of the museum, in the warehouses on the west bank, you can see the signs with the dates of the end of the XVII - the beginning of the XVIII century, when new premises were surrendered or reconstruction and expansion of the area was carried out.
On the outer wall of the buildings there are still large metal hooks on which the wooden gallery was previously suspended. She herself, unfortunately, did not live to see our days. During the use of warehouses, the gallery acted as a protective canopy in heavy rains. On the street under it lay out the reserves of tin and copper, mined on the island . On the top of the guard walked guarding, protecting the warehouses from approaches from the side of the city.
Until the second half of the 20th century warehouses were used for their intended purpose, and only in 1976 historical buildings were recognized as a cultural heritage, and on July 7, 1977 the Maritime Museum opened its doors to them.
Collections reflecting marine history
In the large halls of the museum the whole history of the shipbuilding of Indonesia is represented, from the time of the Majapahit empire to modern ships and navigation aids. Of particular interest is the collection of local traditional sailing ships Pinisi, which are used in South Sulawesi to this day. These are traditional two-masted schooners, who build bugis - indigenous tribes, who have lived here since ancient times.
Modern navigation is represented by collections of sea charts, navigation devices and lighthouses located on the territory of Indonesia. Separate halls are allocated for marine painting and local folklore associated with the sea.
Oceanographic collection of the Maritime Museum in Jakarta
Separately it is worth noting the extensive collection of plants and animals represented in the oceanographic halls. Here you will find stuffed animals and images of marine animals and plants, species of coral reefs, as well as extinct representatives of the local fauna.
How to get to the Maritime Museum in Jakarta?
From the city center to the museum, it is most convenient to take a taxi for 30 minutes or by bus No. 1 to the nearest Kota Tua stop. From it you can walk for about 1 km or use the services of local three-wheeled motorcycles Bajaj.