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INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION IN JAVA:

AN INHERITANCE FROM DAENDELS ERA1
By Djoko Marihandono2

1. Background
Infrastructure construction in Java st during New Order period (Orde baru) has
caused many problems. These problems are very heterogent, not only limited to
technical, but also on social, psychological and economical sphere. On technical side, the
construction of city’s landscape can influence or even can cause social problems for the
city’s life. The experts on building construction have made many researches and have
analyzed the problems for finding the right solution, especially from the technical side.
For historians, the problems that arise in the cities in Java are not new, like flood,
traffic jam, social gap, and city’s poverty. The solution of those problems can be found if
the scientist and technicians learn seriously about the background of this city’s
construction.
Java urban construction as a modern one, had been done by Herman Willem
Daendels as a Governor General in 1808—1811. Daendels, who came with instruction to
defend Java from the threat of British attack, had done many things that related with city
construction and development. In technical infrastructure construction, he became
someone who put the foundation for military and civil defence construction in cities in
Java. In military defence, Daendels made territorial defence system that was very
different from the coastal defence system a defence system that applied by VOC before.
Meanwhile in the field of civil construction, he made some important actions as a starting
point for infrastructure development in Java: the construction of modern urban’s
landscape, especially in Batavia (Jakarta, Buitenzorg (Bogor), Bandung, Semarang, and
Surabaya, and the construction of main road that connected west corner and east corner
of Java. Both policies determined the history of urban’s landscape development and the

1
This paper is presented on Rottary Club Member’s meeting, September 7, 2006.
2
Djoko Marihandono works in Faculty of Humanities Universitas Indonesia, French Study Program,
Department of History
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relationship among cities in Java since the early 19th century until at present. In this
occasion, the topic of this paper is only focused on the construction of civil construction.

2. Main Road Construction

Main road construction that connected west corner and east corner of Java was
done not only for the sake of military defence, but also for the sake of economic affair.
With this road, transporation of agricultural commodity products from rural area to the
coast became fast and smooth. Besides that, this road also functioned as a post
communication that was very useful at that time. Other advantage was that the kings or
local authorities could make contact each and others easier and smoother.
The road construction of Anyer--Panarukan has different view or influence on the
local community nowadays. This road construction was finished less than one year.
Daendels began to build this road from Buitenzorg to Kandanghaur in Cirebon through
Priangan region3. From Cirebon, this road continued along north coast of Java until
finally it reached Banyuwangi. In this project Daendels used the feudal hierarchy after he
had negiotiated with Prefect and the authorities of Java (Bupatis) in Semarang, Central
Java. In this meeting, Daendels asked the regional authorities (Prefect and Bupatis) to
suuply man power under their control to conduct his plan. Daendels said that the
government didn’t have enough money to pay all the workers. His reason was, that
people would get its benefit. So, people were getting involved in this road construction.
Daendels said that people had to get involved because this road would increase
their welfare in the future. But in fact, this road construction took so many victims. After
a further research was conducted, it was proved that there were many abuse in supplying
manpower that mainly done by regional authorities (Prefect). The Prefect made of
Daendels’s instruction for their own interest. But then Daendels knew it and he punished
the Prefect who abused. Fortunately, there were still Prefects or regional authorities that
paid attention to their people in this project, like the Bupati of Sumedang (regent of
Sumedang).

3
According to the archieve, the colonial government expended 30.000 Rijskdaalder to construct main
road between Buitenzorg and Karangsambung (approximately 150 km). Each worker who participated in
this project received 4 rijksdaalder, rice and salt per month as salary. (Stapel: 1940:38).
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By applying centralization system in this project, Daendels could finish the road
construction in only less than one year. He used his power to punish all abuse that
hindered the project. After the roadwas ready, there were many people that took
advantages from that road, for example, court process that held in several central cities
could be shortened and made easier by taking witnesses of criminal case to the court
through this road. Other effects also could be felt after the road existed.

3. Weltevreden Urban Construction

Weltevreden Urban Construction (Central Jakarta now) was done by Daendels
based on two considerations: Hygienis condition and military. In hygienis condition, he
considered that Batavia condition as inherited from VOC and the beginning of 19th
century was not suitable anymore to inhabit, especially as the state capital. Batavia (the
present regions from north of Jakarta Kota railway station to the regions around
Marunda) was a swamp area. This area was not healthy because the smell was bad, and it
became the nest of malaria mosquitos. As a result, Batavia became the source of desease.
VOC had tried to overcome this problem by making some channels to flow waste or
polluted water from Rijswijk (village near Pasar Baru) to Ancol by digging diches and
making gutters. But it did not work to overcome the problem of health, flood, and lack of
clean water.
After receiving the authority on January 14, 1808, Daendels conducted inspection
to Batavia region . From this inspection, he concluded that Batavia was not sitable to
inhabit, and it was very difficult to build a front line of defence there. Based on technical
consideration, Batavia condition could not be made up anymore, because natural factor
was more dominant, i.e. swamp condition in the coast around Penjaringan and Pasar Ikan
at present. So, Daendels decided to move all activity centre and civil administration to the
hinterland that was about 15 km from [Link], he chose Weltevreden (Central
Jakarta) as location for new city.
The first step to realize this was by constructing a new palace (in front of
Lapangan Banteng at present). Then he also built Societeit de Harmonie, that funtioned
as an entertainment place for civil authorities and all citizens, in the end of Molenvliet
street (Gajah Mada now), and Societeit de Concordia for military officers. Daendels’
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target in constructing both building was to excellerate the movement of European

inhabitant from Batavia to Weltevreden, so that this new complex could develop quickly.
Daendels also built many other buildings, either as a government infrastructure or as a
European inhabitant facilities. Catholic Church was built after he provided a land for it on
September 6, 1810, and he gave freedom for Catholic persons to do their religious
activities after the Concordat between Pope and Louis Napoléon (The king of Holland at
the time) was agreed before his departure to Java.
For European inhabitant area, Daendels provided ara in Rijswijk (behind the
presidential palace now) and in Nordwijk (in north of presidential palace now). In the
complex, he built housing for European people and several hotels for guests from abroad
who visited Batavia. To keep Weltevreden citizens healthy, Dendels ordered to close
channels or gutters that were supposed to be sources of malaria and bad smell.
To connect the region in this city easier, Daendels also asked to construct new
road and bridges. The bridges were not only built over the Ciliwung river, but also over
the canals, like Ancol channel, Mokervaart, Gunung Sahari and Sunter. At first these
roads and bridges had a function to support economical and trade activities, but on their
development the roads and bridges were destroyed again when the defence condition
needed to prevent British troops attack to Batavia. So, Daendels has put Jakarta
foundation during his 3 years government. The development of Weltevreden to be the
administrative capital in Jakarta lasted under Dutch government and Indonesian Republic
government. But during independence period, the government policies of the Capital of
Jakarta (DKI Jakarta) didn’t learn seriously from Daendels’s [Link], new
city problems, like flood and traffic jams come.

4. Buitenzorg Construction
Buitenzorg (Bogor) also grew became a city because of Daendels’s policy.
Although since 1750 , when Governor General Baron van Imhoff made the land of
Buitenzorg as a salary for Governor General VOC. Buitenzorg had high value as a place
where Dutch authorities stayed. The development of this city had just begun when
daendels governed, because he decided to stay in Buitenzorg. His first rule for this city
was made when he decided to buy the land and become the landlord or the owner of
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Buitenzorg forever and he didn’t have to give the land to the governor General who will
replaced him later.
After becoming a landlord of Buitenzorg and the surrounding area, Daendels
ordered to built a palace as a place where Governor General stayed. His first purpose was
to move step by step the capital from Batavia to Buitenzorg. This was based on
consideration that Batavia was not save and too risky to become the centre of government
because its location near the coast was easy for enemy to attack it. Meanwhile,
Buitenzorg that located about 60 km from Batavia would give safety guarantee for
Governor General in Indie to stay there.
Other Daendels’ consideration was a defence factor. Batavia that located in
coastal area obviously could not defend itself againts the enemy naval attack. The
Franco-Dutch government didn’t have the battle fleet anymore. So he decided to create a
terittorial defence by constructing the strategic defensive fort in Meester Cornelis.
Buitenzorg as a hihgland, was supposed as a right place to built reserve defence as a part
of territorial defence. Because of that, Daendels focused military unit that prepared to
make any defence in order to support the battle in hinterland if the main defence in
Meester Cornelis (near Jatinegara at present) failed.

5. Conclusion
The difference in political interest has brought the different opinion about what
Daendels had done in Java during his government that lasted only 3 years and 4 months.
At least there were 3 groups of society at that time. First, those who got the effect of
Daendels’s policy directly or indirectly. The effort for abolishing corruption in this
colonial region made the European people that had used to with corruption had to face
viz-a-viz officials that supported fully by government. Second, those who supported
Daendels policy. They did the instruction that made by Governor General and Raad van
Indie consequently and tried to conduct the policy. Third, those who were oportunist.
They looked for the advantages of all policies ordered by Daendels for their own interest.
Daendels had made the basic of the development of city’s infrastructure that
followed by his successors. But, the interest, especially the political struggle in Europe
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or in Java, provoked the difference version in Indonesian historiography. There were

many things created and made by Daendels although his short period governance.

Depok, August 15, 2006

Djoko Marihandono