Museum Bahari a hidden gem in North Jakarta

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta

Like buried treasure, it's tough to find the Indonesian maritime history museum, which is hidden away in the corner between the busy Pasar Ikan and Pakin roads in Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

The entrance to Museum Bahari is small two-meter wide gate with no clear sign advertising its existence, more proof the city administration does not seriously promote heritage in the area.

Inside, the museum's collection is rich and varied, consisting one of about 1,860 historical artifacts from throughout the country.

Head of the museum education and exhibition unit, Mulyono Hartono, said the gloomy aspect of the museum building, which was constructed in 1652, was partly to blame for people's lack of enthusiasm in visiting.

"Not many people want to come in here ... when they do, their first complaint is the difficulty finding their way in," he told The Jakarta Post recently.

There were only about 1,000 visitors a month to the museum on average, mostly foreign tourists and students from Greater Jakarta, Mulyono said. Each visitor pays Rp 2,000 (23 US cents) for admission, while students enter for half price.

The fee is much less than that charged to many visitors at other tourist destinations -- Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta; Taman Mini Indonesia Indah amusement park in East Jakarta; and Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta.

As it only collects about Rp 2 million a month from visitors, the museum is largely dependent on the city administration's subsidy. Its monthly operational costs reach up to Rp 10 million, not including employees' salaries.

Most of the budget goes into the preservation of the collections that take visitors back to the country's old days of seafarers, pirates and the old port city of Batavia, the beginning of modern Jakarta.

Visitors can see miniature and life-sized traditional ships from throughout the country, fishermen's equipment, ship-building technology, navigation equipment, a miniature of Onrust island and the history of Dutch sailors in the country.

The museum's building has its own history. Originally a spice storehouse during the Dutch colonial period, the building was used as a military depot during the Japanese invasion. Later in the late 1940s, the Indonesian government converted it into a power and telecommunications office.

The building was officiated as Museum Bahari in 1977 by the then city governor Ali Sadikin.

Most analyses of heritage sites said Museum Bahari had good economic prospects not only because of its rich collection but also because it sat among many historical sites.

The Outlook Tower is located within the museum's compound, the Sunda Kelapa seaport and its maritime tourist destination are a walkable distance, as are the old business district Gedung Pandjang, the Luar Batang Mosque and Cafe Galangan.

Unfortunately, the administration's Old City Project, which is aimed at improving the condition of old buildings and historical sites, has not been completed because of financial constraints.

Mulyono said museum management had proposed many changes to improve the museum, including the expansion of the display rooms, the construction of an eye-catching entrance gate and parking lots for visitors.

The management has also considered changing the museum entrance from Jl. Pasar Ikan to Jl. Pakin.

Martono Yuwono, the manager of the Sunda Kelapa maritime tourist resort, said a serious resumption of the Old City Project would be the key factor in promoting historical sites on the city's northern coast.

"Historical sites in this area are potential resources if all parties pay serious attention to developing and promoting them," Martono told the Post recently.