This Hotel in Jakarta's Old Town Houses Prince Diponegoro's Suitcase

In one corner of the Hotel House of Tugu, Old Town Jakarta, lies Prince Diponegoro’s suitcase, a mute witness to his struggle against the Dutch. The 1834 suitcase, dark brown in colour, is placed inside a glass cabinet.

“The suitcase is made from tree roots and was used when Prince Diponegoro was exiled to Makassar,” said Regional Sales & Marketing Manager of Tugu Hotels & Restaurants, Rosiany “Sian” T. Chandra, on Friday (17/4/2026).

Not just anyone can view the suitcase. Its location is quite hidden behind a large statue of Prince Diponegoro, and only hotel guests participating in tours can see it.

Other examples include letters handwritten by Soekarno to Fatmawati, a tram that can function as a special dining area, and a door from the elite Batavia social club, Societeit de Harmonie.

There is also a massive tiger boat (Tigersgracht) well-preserved behind glass.

“The tiger boat was once used for sacred ceremonies to bless voyages around the Kali Besar. We obtained its historical records from Dutch-language literature,” said Sian, who guided Kompas.com that afternoon.

The hotel building, located in front of the Kali Krukut, was formerly part of a complex owned by an eccentric Chinese merchant.

“He did not want people entering his house, so he was like an introvert; he built walls around his house. That is why it was known at the time as The Forbidden House of Batavia,” explained Sian.

The house’s floor plan is still neatly displayed in one of the hotel’s rooms. The sign “The Forbidden House of Batavia” can be seen when guests enter the hotel’s front office or Kapiten Hall.

Over time, the house complex was divided into several blocks. One of them became the office of the Kong Koan, an organisation of Chinese merchants at the time. Its leader was appointed by the VOC and called a “kapiten”.

“House of Tugu Jakarta becomes part of the Old Town because guests who stay here, besides feeling the old-time vibes, also blend in with the history of the Old Town,” said Sian.

Guests who stay not only indirectly learn about the Old Town but also become part of it when they step outside the hotel.