Indonesia's sprawling capital, built on the old Dutch trading city of Batavia. In the north, the canal-cut old town of Kota Tua still holds the city hall from which the Dutch East India Company ran a spice empire, and the working schooner harbour that was its reason to exist. To the south lies Merdeka Square, one of the largest in the world, where a colony declared itself a republic beneath a gilded flame. Read the company town and the square of freedom at your own pace.
Articles
Company Town and Square of Freedom: Reading Jakarta on Foot
Cultural·8 min
The Istiqlal Mosque: A Mosque Named Freedom, Designed by a Christian
Companion·7 min
The Stadhuis of Batavia: Why Jakarta's Prettiest Square Was a Corporation's Head Office
Companion·7 min
Monas: Why Indonesia Planted a Golden Flame at the Center of a Colonial Parade Ground
Companion·6 min
Sunda Kelapa: Jakarta's Hand-Loaded Spice Harbour Explained
Companion·7 min
Jakarta Travel Guide: Days, Transport, Weather, Safety, Budget
Cultural·7 min
One Day in Jakarta: A Walkable Morning-to-Evening Itinerary
Cultural·7 min
What to Eat in Jakarta: Betawi Dishes and Where to Order Them
Cultural·9 min
Best Self-Guided Walking Tours in Jakarta (2026)
Cultural·3 min
Best History Walking Tours in Jakarta (2026)
Cultural·2 min
