Tracing Semarang Old Town and Its Role in the Spice Routes
admin
15 September 2021
Marba, a building located in one corner of Semarang Old Town.
The history of Semarang Old Town began with an agreement between Mataram Kingdom and VOC.
Srigunting Park, located across Marba, Semarang Old Town
The Landscape of Semarang from high above
The front view of Oudetrap Building that currently functions as a performance arts center.
The Oudetrap Theatre
Semarang Old Town is a tourist destination for both local and international tourists.
Semarang Old Town is one of the preferred destinations in Atlas City. Located near the city center, Semarang Old Town is filled with ancient buildings in Dutch architecture, either in use or not. Semarang Old Town used to be a VOC fort site. It is seen from the five corners on the map, which shows the pattern of the VOC fort. Today, the pattern doesn’t change much. As time went by, however, we can see some changes in the buildings.
There are iconic buildings and locations in Semarang, like Blenduk Church, Srigunting Park, Oudetrap, and other buildings. Besides stealing people’s attention with their appealing look, the buildings also keep the city’s development history.
Oudetrap, which was built in 1834, was one of the buildings that played a significant role in the Spice Routes. VOC used Oudetrap as a gambier warehouse. Along with Semarang Old Town restoration, today Oudetrap functions as a theater and other art performances in Semarang Old Town.
Some old buildings which are no longer in use are restored as cafes or other multipurpose buildings. Sometimes, various events, like festivals or other interesting shows, take place in Semarang Old Town.
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Image Sources:
1. Djunaidibd/Wikimedia Commons
2. Siska Maria Eviline/Wikimedia Commons
3-7. The Spice Routes Editorial Team’s Documentation
