MERDEKA PALACE

The Merdeka Palace (Indonesian: Istana Merdeka; also known in Indonesian as Istana
Gambir and during colonial times as Paleis te Koningsplein), is one of six presidential
palaces in Indonesia. It is located on the north side of the Merdeka Square in Central Jakarta,
Indonesia and is 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, "(ke)merdeka(an)" meaning
"freedom" or "independence".
The Merdeka Palace is part of the 6.8 hectares (17 acres) Jakarta Presidential Palace
Complex, which also includes the Negara Palace, Wisma Negara (State Guesthouse),
Sekretariat Negara (State Secretariat), and the Bina Graha building. It is the center of the
Indonesian executive authority.

Negara Palace
The history of the Merdeka Palace starts with the mansion of merchant Jacob Andries van
Braam, built in Rijswijk (today known as Harmonie) in 1804.[citation needed]
The estate was
purchased by the government of Dutch East Indies to house the administration and council
meetings.
Merdeka Palace
Lithograph of the Paleis te Koningsplein in the 1880s (now Merdeka Palace)
Reception room of the Palace in 1936

Interior of the Palace in 1936

During the mid-19th century, the Rijswijk palace no longer sufficed for administrative
purposes, thus Governor-General Pieter Mijer ordered the construction of a new palace in
1869. Construction started later on 23 March 1873 under Governor-General James Loudon's
administration. 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 at a cost of 360,000. The new building was built in southern part of the Rijswijk
Palace grounds, directly facing Koningsplein (now Merdeka Square). The palace was
finished in 1879 during Governor-General Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge's administration.
This new palace was also known as Istana Gambir (Gambir Palace).
During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia (1942-1945), the Saiko Shikikan (army
commander) of the Japanese garrison resided in the Rijswijk Palace compound.
The Indonesian national revolution (19451949) ended with the Netherlands' recognition of
the republic of Indonesia. The Indonesian declaration of independence from the Dutch in
1949 was announced in Gambir Palace. During the ceremony, the Dutch flag was substituted
with the Flag of Indonesia. Many spectators were rejoicing when the flag was hoisted, and
yelled "Merdeka! (Freedom!)". From that moment, Gambir Palace became known as
Merdeka Palace. On December 27, 1949, a day after the ceremony, President Sukarno and his
family arrived from Yogyakarta. For the first time, the President of the Republic of Indonesia
settled in Merdeka Palace. The first annual Independence Day ceremony was held at the
Merdeka Palace in 1950.
Since its construction, fifteen Governor-Generals, three Japanese commanders, and one
Indonesian President have taken residence in the Merdeka Palace.
Evolution of the Merdeka Palace
The building has remain unchanged since the building was finished in 1879. After the
Indonesian independence, the Merdeka Palace compound was expanded to include not only
Istana Negara (State Palace), but also to construct Wisma Negara, Sekretariat Negara (State
Sectreatiat) and Bina Graha. Several colonial buildings and residences were demolished in
the Weltevreden area to make way for today's State Palace compound.
A small octagonal gazebo located in the courtyard of the palace was used as private school
for Sukarno's and the palace staff's children. This gazebo was previously used by Dutch
colonial officials as muziekkoepel (music gazebo), where music performances were played
during formal balls.
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 Pustaka
(Regalia Room) and the room of Sukarno's wife Fatmawati became the President's bedroom.
An old wooden building in the palace complex known as "Sanggar" was demolished to make
way for the Puri Bhakti Renatama building, and was used as a museum to store valuable
artifacts, artwork and gifts from foreign emissaries. Later he also built the Bina Graha
building on the palace grounds, which he used as his office.
When Megawati took office, she had the Puri Bhakti Renatama building converted into the
President's office, while its contents moved to Bina Graha building. She also restored the
furniture and decorations of the palace back to the way it was under Sukarno. Suharto's
Jepara wood carving furniture was removed, with the exception of the Ruang Jepara (Jepara
Room, as a reminder of Suharto's regime), and replaced with the old colonial refurbishment.
The Merdeka Palace now

Aerial view of the Palace compound

Vladimir Putin meets Yudhoyono at the Merdeka Palace during the Russian state visit of
2007
The Merdeka Palace serves as an official venue for state events such as the Independence
Day ceremony, welcoming (foreign) dignitaries, cabinet meetings, state banquets and
reception of letters of credence from foreign ambassadors. Additionally, it still contains the
president's private quarters and offices.
The administrative role that the palace once had, has been shifted to the State Palace and
State Secretariat, while the Merdeka Palace remains a symbol of authority.
Layout of the Palace
A 17 m tall flagpole and a fountain are located on the front lawn of the Merdeka Palace. The
annual flag raising ceremony takes place during the Indonesian Independence day on August
17. During the Independence ceremony, the veranda is often used as a ceremonial stage for
the President and dignitaries.
Notable rooms in the Palace include:
Ruang Kredensial (credential hall) provides entrance to the palace and is the place
where most diplomatic activities are conducted, such as receiving state guests and
ambassadors. The credential hall is decorated with furniture that dates back to the
colonial days, as well as paintings and ceramic works.
Ruang Jepara (Jepara room) was a former study room of Sukarno, and named after
the Central Javanese town of Jepara, source of the room's carved wooden furniture
and ornaments.
Ruang Raden Saleh (Raden Saleh room) is located in front of Ruang Jepara. The
room was previously used as the First Lady's office and living room. Megawati used
the room to store 5 paintings by Indonesian painter Raden Saleh.
Ruang Resepsi (reception room) is the largest room of the palace. It is usually used
for state banquets, state gala dinners, national meetings, and cultural performances.
There are two paintings of Basuki Abdullah. On the eastern wall hangs "Pergiwa
 Pergiwati", a painting theme from Mahabharata, and on the west wall hangs the
Javanese "Jaka Tarub" painting.
Ruang Bendera Pusaka (the heirloom flag room), or Regalia room. The room is
used to store "Bendera Pusaka", the first Indonesian flag that was raised during
Indonesian Declaration of Independence on 17 August 1945.
The presidents after Sukarno no longer use the palace as a residence, although it is still the
official presidential residence. The palace's offices are still in use by the current Indonesian
president. During the Suharto administration, Suharto preferred to reside in his own house at
Jalan Cendana, Menteng, while the palace and Bina Graha only served as his office. The
palace once again became the official presidential residence during the Abdurrahman Wahid
and Megawati administrations. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono sometimes resides in Merdeka
Palace, however just like Suharto, he often prefers to reside in his own house, at Puri Cikeas,
Cibubur, south of Jakarta.