Jakarta — Histories

Timeline

1. 1522
   Sunda Kingdom

   Sunda signs a trade pact with Portugal at Kalapa

   Kalapa (Sunda Kelapa), the main port of the Pajajaran kingdom, gives the Portuguese free access to the pepper trade in return for help against the rising Demak sultanate.

   See: Sunda Kelapa Harbour
2. 22 June 1527
   Sultanates

   Fatahillah captures Sunda Kelapa

   Acting for Demak, Fatahillah drives the Portuguese from the harbour on 22 June 1527 and renames it Jayakarta; 22 June is still celebrated as Jakarta's birthday.

   See: Sunda Kelapa Harbour
3. 1619–1621
   VOC Batavia

   The VOC razes Jayakarta and builds Batavia

   Dutch East India Company forces destroy Jayakarta and seize the port in 1619; the new walled city is officially named Batavia on 18 January 1621.

   See: Kota Tua & Museum Fatahillah
4. 1707–1710
   VOC Batavia

   Batavia's city hall is completed

   The rebuilt Stadhuis, begun in 1707, is finished in 1710 as the VOC's administrative seat; it becomes the Jakarta History Museum in 1974.

   See: Kota Tua & Museum Fatahillah
5. 1740
   VOC Batavia

   Massacre of Batavia's Chinese

   In October 1740 thousands of Chinese are killed and the temple now called Vihara Dharma Bhakti is burned; survivors are moved to Glodok, outside the walls, which becomes Chinatown.

   See: Vihara Dharma Bhakti
6. 1820–1821
   Dutch East Indies

   Batavia moves south to Weltevreden

   After the VOC's end, government moves inland to Weltevreden; Pasar Baru opens in 1820 and the Schouwburg theatre, today Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, in 1821.

   See: Gedung Kesenian Jakarta
7. 1868
   Dutch East Indies

   The Batavian Society's museum opens

   The Bataviaasch Genootschap, founded in 1778, opens its museum on Koningsplein; a bronze elephant from King Chulalongkorn of Siam later gives it the name Gedung Gajah.

   See: National Museum of Indonesia
8. March 1942
   Japanese occupation

   Batavia becomes Jakarta

   Japanese forces take Batavia on 5 March 1942; after the Dutch surrender on 9 March the city is renamed Jakarta as a special municipality.

9. 17 August 1945
   Independence

   Independence is proclaimed at Pegangsaan Timur 56

   On 17 August 1945 Sukarno, with Hatta, reads the proclamation of Indonesian independence from the front terrace of his house at Jalan Pegangsaan Timur 56, now Jalan Proklamasi.

   See: Proclamation Monument
10. 1961–1975
    Sukarno era

    Work starts on the National Monument

    Sukarno drives in the first pile on 17 August 1961; the 132-metre Monas, topped with a gold-leaf flame, opens to the public on 12 July 1975.

    See: National Monument (Monas)
11. 22 February 1978
    New Order

    Istiqlal Mosque opens

    Begun in 1961 to a design by Friedrich Silaban, the national mosque opens on 22 February 1978 beside Merdeka Square, facing Jakarta Cathedral.

    See: Istiqlal Mosque · Jakarta Cathedral
12. 24 March 2019
    Modern

    Jakarta's first MRT line opens

    Phase one of the Jakarta MRT, running from Lebak Bulus to Bundaran HI, opens on 24 March 2019 and later anchors the revival of Blok M.

    See: Taman Literasi Martha Christina Tiahahu
13. 25 April 2024
    Modern

    The DKJ law is enacted

    Law No. 2/2024, enacted on 25 April 2024, will make Jakarta a special region for the economy and trade once a presidential decree moves the capital to Nusantara; until then it stays DKI Jakarta, the capital.

Heritage sites