Combination “bank” and “museum” is more than enough to make people stay away. However, after couple time visit Bank of Indonesia Museum in Jakarta surprisingly I found interesting stories in this well-maintenance museum.
Located around Old Town’s Jakarta area, Bank of Indonesia Museum give you insight about monetary timeline and old money in Indonesia. Nevertheless, I think the most powerful message that we can get from Bank of Indonesia Museum is about Indonesia spices. We could learn spices history and its correlation with money and power during colonial period.
That will give you basic understanding about why and how people from European country want to come far away and stay long enough in Indonesia since 16th century. Yes, Netherlands colonialized Indonesia for 350 years because of spices. When Chinese trader sold spices through silk route with very high price, Netherlands decide to explore the world to find land of spices with ship. It happens after exploration by sea (map -red) found by their ‘neighbor’ country.
Interior Bank of Indonesia Museum
Netherlands found Ternate and Tidore Kingdom (Maluku island – present time) and made Jakarta as their administrative city, storage city and harbor city. All these story…you can found in Bank of Indonesia Museum. You can also see this building architecture inside out. It is old building since 17-18th century and still stand strong until today.
In Bank of Indonesia Museum, you can also explore their money collection from all over Indonesia from 9th century – long before colonial period. From paper to coin, Arabic to latin words, and of course the story behind every coins/paper money there.
Coin from 9th century
THREE FACT ABOUT BANK OF INDONESIA MUSEUM
You can rent Bank of Indonesia Museum Jakarta for your wedding party
Yes, you read it right. You can rent it. Bank of Indonesia Museum has basement area where you can held your party on the evening. This museum will close at night so you can rent it for your special occasion. I’ve been see someone use basement area during daylight, but it is not as beautiful as glowing party at night. Too hot and too bright IMHO. Noisy. Make another museum’s guest uncomfortable.
Getting ready for night party!
Bank of Indonesia Museum Jakarta will close on Monday
Monday is maintenance day. Most of the museum in Jakarta will close on Monday. Not only Monday but this museum also close during public holiday in Indonesia. Nah, you should ask your local friend if you really want to visit Bank of Indonesia Museum.
You need to put your belonging in Bank of Indonesia Museum’s front desk
You can not bring your bag inside the museum. The staff will lend you plastic bag to bring your important belonging such us wallet, camera, phone. Fair enough? I think so. I don’t want to see visitors make a mess with their water and snacks inside the museum. People are not easy to control even there is CCTV and sign board in every corner of Bank Indonesia Museum.
There is two best choice of public transportation to go Bank of Indonesia Museum Jakarta. You can use Jakarta train service and stop on the last train station called “Stasiun Kota”. Second, you can try our Transjakarta Bus corridor 1 Blok M – Kota. You can stop on the last bus shelter called “Kota”. We could also help you to go Bank of Indonesia Museum in the most efficient way. You can book our Batavia Tour including private guide for half day. The choice is yours. Happy exploring!