Snapshots to Semarang Harbor

These are just simple quick snapshots during a walk through around the old lighthouse at Semarang harbor. The pictures are captured during my visit on July 2011. Pictures of medium size ships were docking in front of the light house at the river side might be part of the origin of the old Semarang harbor.

Typical large wooden ships are made a port including a Search and Rescue ship are shown and were directly docking in front of the light house. The appearance and glimpse of the lighthouse are shown in the harbor scenery. The place where the sips are made a port is part of 600 meter long harbor strip that spreading out from the bridge near Martadinata outer ring road at southern-end side to the opposite northern-end side of harbor strip.

Some imaginations might be raised in related with the history about this place. Maybe about Dutch's naval ships fleet that ever emerging and establishing their rule over this city and also about Admiral Cheng Ho from the Emperor of China that might be ever passed this river during his friendship visit to Semarang City.

King Willem's Lighthouse, Hundred Years Old Steel Tower at Semarang Harbor

At the west-end side of Semarang harbor, this hundred years old lighthouse tower is found and still standing tall. A white painted tower in decagonal shape that made off steel plate and steel framing works is still standing strong to watch seaside scenery around Semarang harbor. Based on history reference notes this lighthouse tower is built on 1879 according to permission of the Dutch's King Willems II and the construction works is completed on 1884.

This tower is one of hundred years old lighthouses in the world remain exist and well-preserved in almost good conditions. After more than a hundred years now, at least this tower is becoming an important witness about the importance of Semarang harbor's roles during Dutch Colonial Era. No doubt about it, this is one of the iconic heritages that are still found in Semarang City.

Gedung Pelni at Mpu Tantular Street and Remaining History of Old Dutch Colonial Shipping Company

Gedung Pelni is situted near Jakarta Lloyd Building, it's only separated with Kutilang Street. Gedung Pelni and GKBI Building are directly situated side by side. Thehistory of PT Pelni is closely related with N.V. K.P.M (Koninklijke Paketvaart Matschappij), a Dutch Colonial shipping company that is took over by the Indonesian Government. This is one of old Shipping Companies that are placed around the Old City Conservation Area.

The most interesting part of the building is the appearance of its main entry side that is marked by the existence of a tower at the building corner side. This entry corner is located at the intersection of Mpu Tantular Street and Kutilang Street. Another similar tower is situated at the opposite side adjacent to the neighborhood building, the GKBI building at northern side. The entry canopies are formed with curved shapes among overall building shape that is formed with strong geometrical shapes. High window with its wooden louvered leaves in rectangular shapes at lower floor level become remaining dominant elements to the facade.

Rajawali Nusindo Building at 11th Mpu Tantular Street

This is just another old building at Mpu Tantular Street, a Street that is situated in line with mBerok River. The building is directly located side by side with PTP XV Building, another old building that is described my previous blog post.

A signage is still found on building facade describes that the owner of the building is Rajawali Nusindo, an old conglomerate company that is took-over by the government. What I have found from online notes, this building originally known as Koloniale Bank.

Building facade are found with many arch openings that currently covered with steel trellis to make linear corridors at lower floor terrace and balcony at upper floor are a concealed against pedestrian line. Only wall and windows at the middle part of the building are placed directly against pedestrian side, but no main entry door is found here ( directly facing to the street ).

Kepodang Street View, a Forgotten Street of Old Dutch Colonial City

Kepodang Street and Sendowo street is situated in parallel each other, but Kepodang Street is placed more closer to Blenduk Church and directly situated behind Jiwasraya Building. But, it seem hidden from the prominent old city conservation area around Blenduk Church.

This is also a narrow street, but give the street walker a different feeling with rows of tall old buildings at both sides of the street. A narrow street in the middle of some old two-storey buildings at both sides. A text signage of "anno 1912"is still obviously seen on a facade of an old building. This remind us about a remaining old street and building from Dutch Colonial Era. Just like walking on the street in a remaining abandoned old town in Europe Land.



A street vendor spot is found at a street intersection that sells cocks for fighting. Actually, this is extended place from the neighborhood bird market at Sendowo Street nearby. Meanwhile, a long row of motorbikes parking lot is currently established in other part of the frontage street. Some of pedestrian terrace belong to an old tall building remains as an empty space, if not uses for bike parking space.


Some wild vegetative seem sprout-up over building facade with its roots strongly hold and spread-out over the masonry wall. Will this remaining piece of old colonial town are weather beaten and forgotten?



I have did an online search to find out, what are the original names of some old building have shown on the above photographs. Building have shown as 1st picture is "Toko Soesman" and the 5th picture is "Algemene Verzekering Mij Indische Lloyd". The 6th, 7th and 8th picture are "Nederlandsch-Indische Escompto Maatschappij".

Sendowo Street View; Bird Market and Remaining Pieces of The Old City

Sendowo Street is about 400 meter long of messy street at the outer perimeter of the old city conservation area. Currently, it looks like a concealed backyard belong to the 'old little Netherland' area.


Sendowo Street is accessible from Suari Street (a street that is perpendicularly placed against the famous Blenduk Church), and from the Suari Street intersection we can directly find bird market belong to the street vendors. A small street market under the shadows of remaining abandoned old buildings and pedestrian trees.



I think I found 'old city' become alive and transformed at Sendowo Street in another and different kind of its daily life. It looks alive maybe because the street is partially transformed as a bird market and place for the orange urban minibus passengers find its end route. Rest of that, there are only remaining abandoned aged old buildings keep standing in silence.

An Old Railway Office Building at the Edge of Salt Water Intrusion Swamp

Just a simple old two-storey building that is situated about 600 meters from Tawang Railway Station. The building is directly placed at the intersection of Pengapon Street and Ronggowarsito Street. Nowadays, this building looks as a stand alone piece at the edge of large salt water intrusion swamp.

With reference to a historical note, this building was known as formerly Hoofdkantoor N.V. Semarang–Joana Stoomtram-Maatschappij. A Dutch train company for Semarang-Juwana line. Juwana is a small city at eastern side of Semarang City. This company began in 1882 its business with the opening of the line in Semarang Djoernatan to Djomblang


Tall wooden louvered windows with curved plaster architrave are found at the lower and upper building levels. There is viewing wooden balcony deck surrounding almost at all building sides including its thin round metal support columns and its broken wooden railing.

Windows are also found on the metal roof box, it might be related with the existence of an attic inside the roof box structure. There is a remaining signage board at the balcony that indicates the building function as railway planning and engineering office.