North Jakarta

History

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History of North Jakarta: The Maritime Gateway of the Archipelago

Origins and Pre-Colonial Era

North Jakarta is the starting point of Jakarta's history. This region originated from an ancient port named Sunda Kelapa, located at the mouth of the Ciliwung River. Based on the manuscript Bujangga Manik, this port had been an international pepper trading center since the 12th century under the Pajajaran Kingdom. A major transformation occurred on June 22, 1527, when Fatahillah, a commander from the Demak Sultanate, successfully repelled the Portuguese fleet and captured the port, subsequently renaming it Jayakarta, meaning "Glorious Victory."

Colonial Era and the Transformation of Batavia

In 1619, Jan Pieterszoon Coen of the VOC destroyed Jayakarta and built Batavia. North Jakarta, particularly the Pasar Ikan and Penjaringan areas, became the administrative nerve center of the colony. The VOC Shipyard and defense forts were established here. One of the dark events that occurred was the Angke Tragedy in 1740, an ethnic Chinese massacre that altered the region's demographics. As the Sunda Kelapa port became silted, the Dutch East Indies government built Tanjung Priok Port in 1877 under the supervision of Governor-General Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge, which remains Indonesia's busiest port to this day.

Struggle for Independence Era

North Jakarta played a vital role in logistical and military mobilization during the revolution. Tanjung Priok Port bore silent witness to the arrival of Allied troops (AFNEI) after the Proclamation of 1945, which triggered tensions with local fighters. Port workers in North Jakarta were known for their militancy in supporting independence, often staging strikes to paralyze Dutch troop supplies.

Modern Development and Cultural Heritage

After independence, North Jakarta developed into an industrial and tourism area. In 1966, under the leadership of Governor Ali Sadikin, the Ancol area, formerly a swamp, was transformed into Taman Impian Jaya Ancol. Administratively, North Jakarta, with an area of 149.87 km², officially stands as an administrative city bordering six surrounding regions.

The cultural heritage in this region is unique, reflecting coastal cultural acculturation. The "Nadran" or sea festival tradition is still practiced by the fishing communities in Cilincing as a form of gratitude. Additionally, the Cingkrik silat tradition was born from the coastal environment.

Historical Sites and Local Identity

North Jakarta has the highest concentration of historical sites in Jakarta. The Maritime Museum (former VOC spice warehouse), Masjid Luar Batang founded by Al-Habib Husein bin Abubakar Alaydrus in the 18th century, and Gereja Sion (Portuguese Church) are tangible evidence of the region's diversity. The existence of Kampung Tugu with its Portuguese descendant community adds a historical color not found elsewhere in Jakarta. Today, North Jakarta continues to transform into Indonesia's blue economy center while preserving its historical narrative as the main gateway of the archipelago to the international world.