The Merdeka Palace (; also known in Indonesian as and during the Dutch colonial times as ), is one of seven presidential palaces in Indonesia. It is located on the north side of the Merdeka Square in Central Jakarta, Indonesia, and was used as the official residence of the president of the Republic of Indonesia.

The palace was a residence for the governor-general of the Dutch East Indies during the colonial era. In 1949, the palace was renamed Merdeka Palace, "(an)" meaning "freedom" or "independence".

The Merdeka Palace is part of the Jakarta Presidential Palace Complex, which also includes the Negara Palace, Wisma Negara (state guest house), Sekretariat Negara (State Secretariat), and the Bina Graha building. It is the center of the Indonesian executive authority.

History

The beginning

thumb|left|Lithograph of the Paleis te Koningsplein in the 1880s (now Merdeka Palace)

thumb|right|Reception room of the palace in 1936

thumb|right|Interior of the palace in 1936

The building that is now the Merdeka Palace was built on the premise of the Rijswijk Palace (present Istana Negara) when it was considered no longer sufficient for administrative purposes e.g. big receptions and conferences during the mid-19th century. In 1869, the instruction to construct a new palace was given by Governor-General Pieter Mijer. Construction took place on the south lawn of the Rijswijk Palace on 23 March 1873 during the tenure of Governor-General James Loudon.

The Neo-Palladian palace was designed by Jacobus Bartholomeus Drossaers and was built by the Department of Public Works and the contracting firm Drossaers & Company for ƒ 360,000. The new building was built in the southern part of the Rijswijk Palace grounds, directly facing Koningsplein (now Merdeka Square).

Construction of the palace was finished in 1879 during the tenure of Governor-General Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge. The new palace was given the official name Paleis van de Gouverneur Generaal ("Palace of the Governor-General"), the official residence of the governor-general of the Dutch East Indies and his family.

Governor-General Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge (1875–1881) was the first to reside in the building. Governor-General Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer (1936–1942) was the last Dutch governor-general to reside in the Palace.

Japanese occupation

During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies (1942–1945), the Army Commander () of the Japanese garrison resided in the Rijswijk Palace compound. Three Japanese commanders have taken residence in the Merdeka Palace.

When Suharto became president of Indonesia, he made changes to the previously residential function of the palace. Sukarno's bedroom was converted into Ruang Bendera Pusaka (Regalia Room) and the room of Sukarno's wife Fatmawati became the president's bedroom. The 7th former president Joko Widodo preferred to live in Istana Bogor.

Changing of the guard

thumb|Changing of the guard ceremony at the Merdeka Palace

Since 17 July 2016, the changing of the guard ceremony by the Paspampres has been opened to the public. It is held at 8 am on every last Sunday of the month in front of the palace yard.

See also

  • Garuda Palace - Nusantara
  • List of presidential palaces in Indonesia
  • Bogor Palace
  • Cipanas Palace
  • Gedung Agung
  • Vice Presidential Palace (Indonesia)
  • Official residence

References

Cited works

  • Istana Merdeka profile (in Indonesian)
  • Istana Merdeka history (in Indonesian)