National Archives Building returns to its past glories
National Archives Building returns to its past glories
Text by Yudha Kartohadiprodjo photos by Mulkan Salmona
JAKARTA(JP): Generally associated with ruined buildings,
burned stores and horrendous traffic, old-town Jakarta is hiding
a jewel-laden oasis that has remained undiscovered by most
passersby: the National Archives Building.
After three years of strenuous fund-raising to finance the
renovation, the building has been restored to its former glory
and will now have a distinctive role.
Originally named Huis de Klerk, or House of de Klerk, after
its original owner Reiner de Klerk, the building witnessed the
rise and fall of Dutch colonialism and once stored the documents
of modern Indonesian history.
Located at Jl. Gajah Mada No, 111, West Jakarta, the closed
Dutch-style building was built in 1760 as de Klerk's country-
house in an area that was then an elite quarter.
Local teak wood, Italian marble and bricks from Madras adorn
the structure while guest houses enclose the two-story building
on either side.
De Klerk arrived in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) as a
young sailor, during a rising career from low-paid accountant to
Dutch East Indies Governor General in 1777. Manipulating his
appointment as an administrator of Banda and Semarang, de Klerk's
lucrative spice-trading side business gave him the opportunity to
build his fortune.
Once occupying a vast piece of property, the house faced the
Ciliwung river while the backyard stretched out to the Krukut
river. To keep the estate running smoothly, more than one hundred
slaves were kept by de Klerk on the estate, according to
Historical Sites of Jakarta written by Dutchman Adolf J. Heuken.
Following de Klerk's death, the house was sold to John Siberg,
who also became governor general.
After changing ownership several times, the Dutch government
bought the building in 1901 and used it as Landsarchief or the
Archive building. The Indonesian government retained the
building's function until 1991.
The interesting tales of Jakarta's historical sites seem to
hold more charm for foreign historians than the capital's
natives. Good-quality publications on the subject written by
Indonesians are few and far between.
"(To write my book) I used various books and magazine
articles. None were written by an Indonesian." said Heuken. He
added that there was an abundance of historical sources about
Indonesia in his country, 5,000 kilometers to the northwest.
Indeed distance may be the biggest limitation for Indonesian
researchers.
However, the impediment may end soon; Aldeman Rijks Archief in
The Hague and the National Archive will join with archives from
other former Dutch colonies to prepare a joint exhibition to
present the history of 400 years of the Dutch Indies Company,
V.O.C., in 2002. In its golden age, Capetown, Colombo and Madras
were also colonies of the company.
Djoko Utomo from National Archive said that a digital archive
of documents from colonial times would soon be available in the
renovated building. Djoko is the caretaker deputy director
general for archive administration.
The National Archive holds a varied record of Indonesian
history ranging from documents to audio visual records and
graphics and illustrations. It claims to have an extensive record
of authentic colonial-era documents, with most still in good
condition.
"The archive will be retained in their organizational
function," said Djoko, quoting the Principal of Provenance held
by archives throughout the world. The principal explains why
important documents written in Indonesia need to be returned to
Indonesia.
Archive staff have hunted for Indonesia-related materials
scattered around the world. A journal dating back to 1602 is the
oldest document the archive currently stores.
Yet, not all of the documents are available to the public.
With some it is because most of the colonial documents were
written in Dutch. Others are restricted because they may
"endanger national security" due to their "sensitive nature", or
require the written permission of the document's owner.
Such limitations may hinder any researcher wanting to study
Indonesia's past.
Indonesia currently does not have a Freedom of Information Act
as in other countries. The archive is also running on a limited
budget.
When the National Archive moved to South Jakarta in 1991, the
historical building was abandoned and neglected.
On the initiative of a group of Dutch nationals living in
Jakarta and help from friends and associates in the Netherlands,
four million guilders (US$2.15 million) was collected in 1995.
Raised through The Stichting Cadeu Indonesia (SCI), the funds
were channeled to Forum Indonesia Netherlands.
Now returned to pristine condition, the building will become
an information, knowledge and cultural center in the historic
part of Jakarta.
After its opening ceremony on Sunday night, the management
board is planning to use the building to host various cultural
and history-related events.
To oversee the activities, a professional staff will be
appointed, while SCI will continue to support the project for the
next three years.
The last private owner of the house, Leendert Miero, invited a
large crowd of friends to his house on a specific date every
year. A one-time young soldier who guarded the house, Miero once
received 50 lashes for sleeping on his watch; that day he swore
that he would own the house. After fulfilling the vow, Miero
celebrated the day by telling his tale to his friends.
Once chosen because of its location near a mineral well, The
National Archive Building is expected to become the well of
knowledge that will stimulate people to investigate the
historical tales of their past.
Text by Yudha Kartohadiprodjo photos by Mulkan Salmona
JAKARTA(JP): Generally associated with ruined buildings,
burned stores and horrendous traffic, old-town Jakarta is hiding
a jewel-laden oasis that has remained undiscovered by most
passersby: the National Archives Building.
After three years of strenuous fund-raising to finance the
renovation, the building has been restored to its former glory
and will now have a distinctive role.
Originally named Huis de Klerk, or House of de Klerk, after
its original owner Reiner de Klerk, the building witnessed the
rise and fall of Dutch colonialism and once stored the documents
of modern Indonesian history.
Located at Jl. Gajah Mada No, 111, West Jakarta, the closed
Dutch-style building was built in 1760 as de Klerk's country-
house in an area that was then an elite quarter.
Local teak wood, Italian marble and bricks from Madras adorn
the structure while guest houses enclose the two-story building
on either side.
De Klerk arrived in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) as a
young sailor, during a rising career from low-paid accountant to
Dutch East Indies Governor General in 1777. Manipulating his
appointment as an administrator of Banda and Semarang, de Klerk's
lucrative spice-trading side business gave him the opportunity to
build his fortune.
Once occupying a vast piece of property, the house faced the
Ciliwung river while the backyard stretched out to the Krukut
river. To keep the estate running smoothly, more than one hundred
slaves were kept by de Klerk on the estate, according to
Historical Sites of Jakarta written by Dutchman Adolf J. Heuken.
Following de Klerk's death, the house was sold to John Siberg,
who also became governor general.
After changing ownership several times, the Dutch government
bought the building in 1901 and used it as Landsarchief or the
Archive building. The Indonesian government retained the
building's function until 1991.
The interesting tales of Jakarta's historical sites seem to
hold more charm for foreign historians than the capital's
natives. Good-quality publications on the subject written by
Indonesians are few and far between.
"(To write my book) I used various books and magazine
articles. None were written by an Indonesian." said Heuken. He
added that there was an abundance of historical sources about
Indonesia in his country, 5,000 kilometers to the northwest.
Indeed distance may be the biggest limitation for Indonesian
researchers.
However, the impediment may end soon; Aldeman Rijks Archief in
The Hague and the National Archive will join with archives from
other former Dutch colonies to prepare a joint exhibition to
present the history of 400 years of the Dutch Indies Company,
V.O.C., in 2002. In its golden age, Capetown, Colombo and Madras
were also colonies of the company.
Djoko Utomo from National Archive said that a digital archive
of documents from colonial times would soon be available in the
renovated building. Djoko is the caretaker deputy director
general for archive administration.
The National Archive holds a varied record of Indonesian
history ranging from documents to audio visual records and
graphics and illustrations. It claims to have an extensive record
of authentic colonial-era documents, with most still in good
condition.
"The archive will be retained in their organizational
function," said Djoko, quoting the Principal of Provenance held
by archives throughout the world. The principal explains why
important documents written in Indonesia need to be returned to
Indonesia.
Archive staff have hunted for Indonesia-related materials
scattered around the world. A journal dating back to 1602 is the
oldest document the archive currently stores.
Yet, not all of the documents are available to the public.
With some it is because most of the colonial documents were
written in Dutch. Others are restricted because they may
"endanger national security" due to their "sensitive nature", or
require the written permission of the document's owner.
Such limitations may hinder any researcher wanting to study
Indonesia's past.
Indonesia currently does not have a Freedom of Information Act
as in other countries. The archive is also running on a limited
budget.
When the National Archive moved to South Jakarta in 1991, the
historical building was abandoned and neglected.
On the initiative of a group of Dutch nationals living in
Jakarta and help from friends and associates in the Netherlands,
four million guilders (US$2.15 million) was collected in 1995.
Raised through The Stichting Cadeu Indonesia (SCI), the funds
were channeled to Forum Indonesia Netherlands.
Now returned to pristine condition, the building will become
an information, knowledge and cultural center in the historic
part of Jakarta.
After its opening ceremony on Sunday night, the management
board is planning to use the building to host various cultural
and history-related events.
To oversee the activities, a professional staff will be
appointed, while SCI will continue to support the project for the
next three years.
The last private owner of the house, Leendert Miero, invited a
large crowd of friends to his house on a specific date every
year. A one-time young soldier who guarded the house, Miero once
received 50 lashes for sleeping on his watch; that day he swore
that he would own the house. After fulfilling the vow, Miero
celebrated the day by telling his tale to his friends.
Once chosen because of its location near a mineral well, The
National Archive Building is expected to become the well of
knowledge that will stimulate people to investigate the
historical tales of their past.