History of the Sunda Kelapa Harbor

Sunda Kelapa

According to Portuguese sources, Sunda Coconut is one of the ports owned by the Kingdom of Sunda in addition to the port of Bantam, helter, Cigede, Tamgara and Cimanuk. Sunda Kelapa that in this text called Kalapa considered to harbor the most important because it can be reached from the capital city of the kingdom which is called by the name Dayo (in modern Sundanese language: dayeuh which means city) within two days.

This port has been used since the time Tarumanagara and estimated to have existed since the 5th century and was called Sundapura. In the 12th century, the port is known as a busy port belongs pepper Sundanese kingdom, which had its capital at Pakuan Pajajaran or Pajajaran is now a city of Bogor. Foreign ships coming from China, Japan, South India, and the Middle East is already docked at the port carrying goods such as porcelain, coffee, silk, cloth, incense, horses, wine, and dye in exchange for spices Spices are a commodity trading time.

Pakuan Pajajaran, which centered around the city of Bogor now. The merchants often stopped in the Sunda archipelago Kalapa of which came from Palembang, Tanjungpura, Malacca, Macassar and Madura and even foreign vessels from South China, Gujrat / South India, and Arabia was anchored at this port carrying goods such as porcelain, coffee, silk, fabrics, perfumes, incense, horses, wine, and dye to be exchanged with pepper and spices into commodities at the time. Chinese sailors called the Sunda Kalapa with the City's name Ye-cheng, which means the city of Palm. This is probably due to the many palm trees that grew around the port of Sunda Kalapa at the time.

The first Europeans Portuguese under the leadership of de Alvin first arrived in Sunda Kelapa with a fleet of four ships in 1513, about two years after conquering the city of Malacca. They came to look for opportunities spice trade with the western world. Because of Malacca they heard the news that the Sunda Kalapa pepper is a major port in the region. According to Tome Pires travel records at the time the port of Sunda Kalapa is busy but well organized.

A few years later the Portuguese came back under the leadership of Enrique Leme to bring gifts for the King of Sunda Pajajaran. They were well received and on August 21, 1522 agreement signed between the Portuguese and the Kingdom of Sunda Pajajaran. The agreement enshrined in stone inscriptions Padrao which can now be seen at the National Museum. With the agreement entitled to build a Portuguese trading post and fort in Sunda Kalapa. Pajajaran Portuguese hopes will help against attacks from Islamic kingdoms such as Demak and Cirebon along with the strengthening influence of Islam in Java that threatens the existence of the Hindu kingdom of Sunda Pajajaran.

Sunda Kelapa

In 1527, when Portuguese ships back under the leadership of Francesco de Sa with the preparations for building a fort in Sunda Kalapa, was combined Muslim forces Cirebon and Demak numbered 1452 soldiers under the command of Fatahillah,Sunda Kelapa  already mastered. So that when the Portuguese landed successfully attacked and defeated. His victory against the Kingdom of Sunda Pajajaran and Portuguese, on June 22, 1527 Fatahillah rename the port city of Sunda Kalapa into Jayakarta which means "real victory".

The arrival of the Dutch in the White Rose
Dutch fleet under the command of Cornelis de Houtman arrived first in the Sunda Kalapa (White Rose) on 13 November 1596 with the same purpose, looking for spices. Spices at the time it became commodities in the Netherlands because of various properties such as medicine, body warmers, and perfume materials.

Dutch traders (who later joined the VOC) in 1610 received a warm welcome from Prince Jayakarta Jayawikarta or Wijayakarta ruler who is a follower of the Sultan of Banten and make an appointment. The Netherlands are allowed to build warehouses and trading post made of wood on the east mouth of the river Ciliwung.

Sunda Kelapa

Seeing the potential for high revenue from the sale of spices in their home country, VOC covenant, building a wooden shed was rebuilt with stronger materials and set up a trading post at once fortress in southern Sunda Palm Harbor in 1613. then in 1618 the Dutch built fort. The fort serves as a warehouse storage of goods, also used as a stronghold of resistance from British forces also intend to dominate trade in the archipelago. The fort was built area of ​​the Sunda Kelapa Harbor .
In 1839 the site was founded Tower Syahbandar (Uitkijk or outlook post) that serves as a customs office, or collection of taxes from the goods unloaded at the port. Location of this tower is one of the corner bastion Culemborg (fort) is left.

Sunda Kelapa Harbor in the present

 

Sunda Kelapa

Sunda Kelapa Harbor is now a port of loading and unloading of goods, especially timber from the island of Borneo. Along the harbor lined vessels Phinisi or Bugis Schooner with typical shape, tapered at one end and colorful on the hull. Every day seems a view of the workers are busy up and down the ship for loading and unloading.

Sunda Kelapa Harbor  lies at the northern tip of the city of Jakarta, in Jakarta bay, or rather lies in the way of Varuna Raya. 2 North Jakarta, approximately 8 km west of Tanjung Priok seaport. Sunda Kelapa Harbor area is 631,000 m2, while the broad waters are 12.09 million m2. The flow ports along the 2 miles and width of 100 m2 is limited by the concrete.

In addition to the harbor fish market there remained busy until now. In front there is a fish market area towards the control tower or formerly known as Uitkijk Toren. About 50 meters to the west of the tower or the Maritime Museum there. In this museum can be seen in the original equipment, replica, drawings and photographs related to the marine world in Indonesia, ranging from the royal era up to modern expeditions. The museum was formerly a warehouse to store goods VOC trade in 17th and 18th centuries, and still retained its original condition for tourism activities. On the north side of the museum there is still the original fort is the fort to the north. Entering Jln. Cob in southern museum, we will arrive at the site of the former shipyard also known as VOC or VOC or VOC Shipyard dock. Formerly ships are damaged beyond repair in this place. Long building with triangular windows in the roof is now revitalized as a restaurant while maintaining its original architecture.

In the vicinity of Sunda Kelapa port area is still there were some Dutch heritage buildings are beautiful and majestic architecture which now functioned as a museum is the Museum Bahari, a former shipyard VOC, Fatahillah Museum, Puppet Museum and others. About 2 km from the port there are railway stations or BeOS Cities (Batavia En OmStreken). This area is an area bustling and crowded with the shopping centers and businesses around it. Because of that from time immemorial been the port of Sunda Kelapa an important port since it is a strategic region and near the city center.