The Outstanding Value of a Cultural Heritage: The Old City of Semarang as the Center for Global Trade in Java, Indonesia in the 18th – 20th Centuries

Abstract

Semarang Old City is located in Semarang City, Central Java, Indonesia. This article contains the discussion on the history of Semarang Old City as the center of global trade activities. This Old City was founded at the end of 17th century after an agreement was approved by the Mataram Kingdom and the Vereeniging van Oost-Indische Compagnië (VOC/The Dutch East Indie Company) in 1678, that led VOC to take control over the north coastal region of Java from the Prince of the Mataram Kingdom, Amangkurat II. Based on this agreement, VOC was given the right to choose the areas near the center of Semarang Regency and Semarang River as its residence in order to easily control the Javanese administration and the Java Sea trading activities. Later on, the colony of the VOC developed into a little city surrounded by a fortress in which the VOC leaders, its officers, and soldiers resided, and some city’s facilities were built such as municipality house (stadshuis), trading offices, shops, roads, soldier barracks, warehouses, schools, hospital, church, court, prison, and residential areas. In the Dutch Colonial era (18th – 20th centuries), this old city become the center of international trade activities in Central Java strengthened by the presence of Semarangs Handels Vereeniging (Association of Traders in Semarang) and Nederlandsche Handels Maatshappij (Dutch Trade Company), which managed the import-export trade.