Who said going to a cemetery was scary? Here we can add insight, you know. Let's see more in here!
Oleh Collectie Wereldmuseum (v/h Tropenmuseum), part of the National Museum of World Cultures, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikipedia)
2. This cemetery was founded in 1795 because at that time there was an epidemic which caused many people to die, including the Dutch people who lived in Batavia. Because the death rate at that time increased sharply, causing the Nieuw Hollandsche Kerk cemetery to be full. This prompted the Dutch government to build a new burial place. Finally, Kerkhof Laan or Tanah Abang Dutch Cemetery was built. On September 28, 1797, it was officially opened to the public, although since 1795 someone had already been buried there.
3. Previously, this cemetery had an area of 5.5ha. Currently, the area is only 1.3 ha. Unfortunately, this is due to the rapid development of the city which has taken up this burial land.
Oleh Hariadhi - http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:Tamanprasasti.jpg, GFDL (Wikipedia)
5. The Taman Prasasti Museum has 1,372 tombs, which are made of natural stone, marble, and bronze. It could be said that this cemetery is luxurious in its time until now. The design of the cemetery is beautiful and makes visitors feel like they are in Europe.
6. Several figures buried here include:
• A.V. Michiels was a Dutch military figure during the Buleleng War.
•Dr. H.F. Roll was the founder of STOVIA or known as the Medical School during the Dutch government.
• J.H.R. Kohler was a Dutch military figure during the Aceh war
• Olivia Marianne Raffles is the wife of Thomas Stamford Raffles. During British rule in Indonesia, he served as British Governor General for the Dutch East Indies, Singapore, and Bengkulu.
• Kapitan Jas, whose grave is believed by some people to provide fertility, safety, prosperity, and happiness.
• Miss Riboet who was a famous opera character in the 1930s
• Soe Hok Gie, a student movement activist in the 1960s.
• Archbishop of Jakarta: Adam Carel Claessens, Pr., Walterus Staal, S.J., Edmundus Luypen, S.J.
Oleh Muhammad Ishomil - Karya sendiri, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)
9. This cemetery was once crowned as the oldest modern cemetery in the world compared to Fort Canning Park which was founded in 1926 in Singapore, Gore Hill Cemetery which was founded in 1868 in Sydney, Père Lachaise Cemetery which was founded in 1803 in Paris, and Mount Auburn Cemetery which was founded in 1831 in Massachusetts.
10. This museum was inaugurated by the former Governor of Jakarta, Ali Sadikin, in 1977. Currently, the Taman Prasasti Museum is managed by the Jakarta History Museum.
Those are 10 facts you should know before you visit one of the oldest cemeteries in the world. Want to know other exciting places? Stay tuned at www.alinear.id, okay...! Or follow our IG (@alinear.id) to get the latest posts!