Istana Negara (English: State Palace, ) is one of the seven presidential palaces of Indonesia. It is located on Veteran Street in Central Jakarta, with Merdeka Palace located south. It is part of the presidential palace compound which has a total area of 68,000 m<sup>2</sup>, along with three other buildings: Bina Graha which was formerly used as the President's Office, Wisma Negara on the western side which is used as the state guest house, and the office for the Ministry of State Secretariat of Indonesia. Istana Negara faces north towards the aforementioned street, while the Merdeka Palace faces Merdeka Square and the National Monument (Monas).
History
thumb|right|Lithograph of Paleis Rijswijk in the 1880s.
thumb|right|View of the reception hall of the palace in 1920s
The beginning
Construction of the building started in 1796. It was built by Jacob Andries van Braam, a Dutchman who between 1810 and 1819 held several high positions in government, to be made his residence. It was an elegant two-floored building designed in the Indies Empire style, a popular style of architecture during the late 18th century. The building was built in the neighborhood of Rijswijk-Molenvliet (present Harmoni), which was among the most exclusive neighborhood in Batavia's Bovenstad ("uptown") at that time. The building was built during the tenure of Governor General Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten, shortly after the completion of another lavish residence which later would become Hotel der Nederlanden. Construction took several years, and the building was finally completed in 1804.
The English period
Upon the completion of the building, the building was handed over to Hugh Hope, the British commissioner when the country was under British rule. Van Braam lived in a smaller wing to the south of the building throughout his life.
Residence of the governor-general
After the death of J.A. van Braam, the house was brought over by the Dutch government in 1821. The government used this building as the center of all administration and as the official residence of the governor-general during a stay in Batavia. The much larger building that was intended by Daendels to become the official residence of the governor-general of the Dutch Indies in Waterlooplein was delayed, and so it was never used as a residence for the governor-general, even after its completion in 1828. As the official residence of the governor-general, van Braam's residence was officially named Hotel van den Gouverneur-Generaal (Hotel of the Governor-General).