Semarang
Semarang is the capital and largest city of Central Java province in Indonesia. A major port during the Dutch colonial era, and still an important regional centre and port today. The city has been named as the cleanest tourist destination in Southeast Asia by the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard for the year of 2020 to 2022.
It has an area of and is located at. The population of the city is approximately 1.8 million people, making it Indonesia's seventh most populous city after Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Bekasi, Medan, and Tangerang. The built-up urban area had 3,183,516 inhabitants at the 2010 census spread on 2 cities and 26 districts. The Semarang metropolitan area has a population of close to 6 million. Population of the city is predominantly Javanese with significant Chinese population.
History
The history of Semarang goes back to the 9th century, when it was known as Bergota. At the end of the 15th century, an Arab named Kyai Pandan Arang founded a village and an Islamic school in this fishing village. On 2 May 1547, Sultan Hadiwijaya of Pajang Kyai declared Pandan Arang the first bupati of Semarang, thus creating Semarang administratively and politically.In 1678, Sunan Amangkurat II promised to give control of Semarang to the Dutch East India Company as a part of a debt payment. In 1682, the Semarang state was founded by the Dutch colonial power. On 5 October 1705 after years of occupations, Semarang officially became a VOC city when Susuhunan Pakubuwono I made a deal to give extensive trade rights to the VOC in exchange of wiping out Mataram's debt. The VOC, and later, the Dutch East Indies government, established tobacco plantations in the region and built roads and railroads, making Semarang an important colonial trading centre.
The historic presence of a large Indo community in the area of Semarang is also reflected by the fact a creole mix language called Javindo existed there.
Classical Indische Town (1678–1870)
Semarang was handed by the Sultan of Mataram to the Dutch East Indies in 1678. The city was pictured as a small settlement with a pious Muslim area called Kauman, a Chinese quarter, and a Dutch fortress. The fortress has a pentagonal form with only one gate in the south and five monitoring towers to protect the Dutch settlement from rebellion actions, segregating the spaces between Dutch settlement and other areas. In fact, the city of Semarang was only referred to the Dutch quarter while the other ethnic settlement were considered as villages outside the city boundary. The city, known as de Europeesche Buurt, was built in classical European style with church located in the centre, wide boulevards, streets and villas. According to Purwanto, the urban and architectural form of this settlement is very similar to the design principles applied in many Dutch cities, which begun to concern on the urban beautification.Due to the long and costly Java War, there was not much funding from the Dutch East Indies government, which affected Semarang's development. The majority of land was used for rice fields and the only small improvement was the development of a surrounding fortress. Although less developed, Semarang has a fairly arranged city system, in which urban activities were concentrated along the river and the settlement was linked to a market where different ethnic groups met to trade. The existence of the market, in the later years, become a primary element and a generator of urban economic growth.
An important influence on urban growth was the Great Mail Road project in the 1847, which connected all the cities in the northern coast of Central and East Java and positioned Semarang as the trade centre of agricultural production. The project was soon followed by the development of the Netherlands Indies railway and the connecting roads into the inner city of Semarang at the end of the 19th century. Colombijn marked the development as the shift of urban functions, from the former river orientation to all services facing the roads.
The modern city (1870–1922)
Improved communication, the result of the Mail and Railway projects, brought an economic boom to the city in the 1870s. There were hospitals, churches, hotels, and large houses built along new main roads; Bojongscheweg, Pontjolscheweg, and Mataram street, densified population in the ethnic settlements and created the urban kampong.Urban growth densified the urban kampong, reaching 1,000 inhabitants per hectare and degrading the quality of living conditions. In the early 20th century, mortality rate were high due to the overcrowding and lack of hygiene that triggered cholera and tuberculosis outbreaks. Cobban noted the ethical movement of kampongverbetering led by Henry Tillema in 1913 and the concern of the Advisor for Decentralisation for kampong improvement through the betterment of public toilets, drainage, and the planning of public housing.
In 1917, a healthy housing project was implemented in the Southern part of Semarang called Candi Baru. Thomas Karsten, the advisor for city planning, transformed the concept of ethnic segregation that divided previous urban settlements into a new housing district plan based on economic classes. Although practically the three ethnic groups were also divided into three economic classes where the Dutch and rich Chinese occupied the largest lots in the housing district, Karsten had effectively emerged the developed district by integrating the road network, introducing newly improved public washing and bathing, squares and sporting facilities that could be used communally. Following the Candi Baru, there were three other housing plans between 1916–1919 to accommodate a 55% population increase in Semarang; 45,000 Javanese, 8500 Chinese and 7000 Europeans. Karsten marked a new approach to town planning with emphasis on the aesthetic, practical and social requirements, articulated not in terms of race but economic zones.
Driven by economic growth and spatial city planning, the city had doubled in size and expanded to the south by the 1920s, creating a nucleus of a metropolis where multi-ethnic groups lived and traded in the city. The villages in the suburbs such as Jomblang and Jatingaleh steadily became the satellite towns of Semarang, more populated with a bigger market area. Before the invasion of Japan in 1942, Semarang had already become the capital of Central Java Province, as the result of trade and industrial success and spatial planning.
Japanese occupation and early independence
The Japanese military occupied the city, along with the rest of Java, in 1942, during the Pacific War of World War II. During that time, Semarang was headed by a military governor called a Shiko, and two vice governors known as Fuku Shiko. One of the vice governors was appointed from Japan, and the other was chosen from the local population.After Indonesian independence in 1945, Semarang became the site of a battle between Indonesian and Japanese soldiers in October 1945. It also became the capital of Central Java province.
Administration
Semarang city administration is headed by mayor, with a legislative assembly. Both mayor and members of legislative assembly are elected by direct vote. Semarang City Government had implemented the smart city concept since 2013.Juridically, Semarang City is a municipality consisting of 16 districts, which again divided into 177 urban villages. The widest sub-district area in Semarang City is Mijen Sub-District which has an area of 57.55 square kilometers. The smallest sub-district area is South Semarang District, which is only 5.93 square kilometers. The city of Semarang is divided into five urban areas, including: Central Semarang, East Semarang, West Semarang, South Semarang, and North Semarang.
Following are the districts and urban villages of Semarang,
| Sub-district | Administrative villages |
| Banyumanik | Pudakpayung, Gedawang, Jabungan, Padangsari, Banyumanik, Srondol Wetan, Pedalangan, Banyumanik, Semarang, Sumurboto, Banyumanik, Semarang, Srondol Kulon, Banyumanik, Semarang, Tinjomoyo, Ngesrep |
| Candisari | Candi, Jatingaleh, Jomblang, Kaliwiru, Karanganyargunung, Tegalsari, Wonotingal |
| Gajahmungkur | Bendanduwur, Bendanngisor, Bendungan, Gajahmungkur, Karangrejo, Lempongsari, Petompon, Sampangan |
| Gayamsari | Gayamsari, Kaligawe, Pandean Lamper, Sambirejo, Sawah Besar, Siwalan, Tambakrejo |
| Genuk | Bangetayu Kulon, Bangetayu Wetan, Banjardowo, Gebangsari, Genuksari, Karangroto, Kudu, Muktiharjo Lor, Penggaron Lor, Sembungharjo, Terboyo Kulon, Terboyo Wetan, Trimulyo |
| Gunungpati | Cepoko, Gunungpati, Jatirejo, Kalisegoro, Kandri, Mangunsari, Ngijo, Nongkosawit, Pakintelan, Patemon, Plalangan, Pongangan, Sadeng, Sekaran, Sukorejo, Sumurejo |
| Mijen | Cangkiran, Bubakan, Jatibarang, Jatisari, Karangmalang, Kedungpane, Mijen, Ngadirgo, Pesantren, Polaman, Purwosari, Tambangan, Wonolopo, Wonoplumbon, |
| Ngaliyan | Bambankerep, Beringin, Gondoriyo, Kalipancur, Ngaliyan, Podorejo, Purwoyoso, Tambak Aji, Wonosari |
| Pedurungan | Gemah, Kalicari, Muktiharjo Kidul, Palebon, Pedurungan Kidul, Pedurungan Lor, Pedurungan Tengah, Penggaron Kidul, Plamongan Sari, Tlogomulyo, Tlogosari Kulon, Tlogosari Wetan, |
| Semarang Barat | Bojongsalaman, Bongsari, Cabean, Gisikdrono, Kalibanteng Kidul, Kalibanteng Kulon, Karangayu, Kembangarum, Krapyak, Krobokan, Manyaran, Ngemplaksimongan, Salamanmloyo, Tambakharjo, Tawangmas, Tawangsari |
| Semarang Selatan | Barusari, Bulustalan, Lamper Kidul, Lamper Lor, Lamper Tengah, Mugassari, Peterongan, Pleburan, Randusari, Wonodri |
| Semarang Tengah | Bangunharjo, Brumbungan, Gabahan, Jagalan, Karangkidul, Kauman, Kembangsari, Kranggan, Miroto, Pandansari, Pekunden, Pendrikan Kidul, Pendrikan Lor, Purwodinatan, Sekayu |
| Semarang Timur | Bugangan, Karangtempel, Karangturi, Kebonagung, Kemijen, Mlatibaru, Mlatiharjo, Rejomulyo, Rejosari, Sarirejo, Bandarharjo |
| Semarang Utara | Bulu Lor, Dadapsari, Kuningan, Panggung Kidul, Panggung Lor, Plombokan, Purwosari, Tanjungmas |
| Tembalang | Bulusan, Jangli, Kedungmundu, Kramas, Mangunharjo, Meteseh, Rowosari, Sambiroto, Sendangguwo, Sendangmulyo, Tandang, Tembalang |
| Tugu | Jerakan, Karanganyar, Mangkang Kulon, Mangkang Wetan, Mangunharjo, Randu Garut, Tugurejo |
Geography
Semarang is located on the northern coast of Java. The city of Semarang is one of the important cities located on the north coast of Java and as the main hub connecting Jakarta and Surabaya, and cities in the southern interior of Java Surakarta and Yogyakarta. Semarang City has a height of 2 meters below sea level up to 340 meters above sea level with a slope of 0% - 45%. Semarang City is a city that has a unique topographic condition in the form of a narrow lowland area and hilly areas extending from the west side to the east side of Semarang City. The city is located about 558 km east of Jakarta and 312 km west of Surabaya.Lowland areas in Semarang City are very narrow. The lowland area in the western region of Semarang City only has a width of 4 kilometers from the coastline, while in the eastern region of the City of Semarang the low-lying area is widening to 11 kilometers from the coastline. This lowland area is a flood plain from the large rivers that flow in Semarang City, such as Kali Garang, Pengkol River, and Bringin River. This low-lying area stretches on the northern side of Semarang City and almost covers 40% of the total area of Semarang City. This lowland area is known as the lower town, as well as the center of the city's economic activity. Under these conditions, the lower city area is often hit by annual flooding and its peak during the rainy season. A number of regions, especially North Semarang, this flood is sometimes also caused by overflowing sea tides. The hilly area in Semarang City stretches on the south side. These hills are part of a series of northern Java mountain ranges that stretch from Banten to East Java. The hilly area in the city of Semarang is known as the upper city. This hilly region is also the upstream area of the big rivers that flow in the city of Semarang. The upper city area is also part of the Ungaran volcano, which is located on the southern side of Semarang City.
Climate
Semarang features a tropical rainforest climate that borders on a tropical monsoon climate. The city features distinctly wetter and drier months, with June through August being the driest months. However, in none of these months does average precipitation fall below 60 mm, hence the tropical rainforest categorization. Semarang on average sees approximately 2800 mm of rain annually. Average temperatures in the city are relatively consistent, hovering around 28 degrees Celsius. Semarang is also known for having Indonesia's hottest maximum temperature record; reaching on October 14, 2014.Semarang River and flood control
Like Singapore River, Semarang is constructing Semarang River at Banjir Kanal Barat near Karangayu Bridge. In the middle of July 2011, gardens in river banks and some traditional boats are available to use. The project will be finished in 2013 with river gardens, trotoars, garden lighting, water activities, art sites, sport sites and balconies and stairs for sightseeing.In August 2011, a tunnel dodger at Kreo river has been finished and Jatibarang Dam construction can begin, with completion targeted for July 2013. The dam is planned to ease per second of flood water and will generate 1.5 Megawatts of electricity, provide a drinking water resource and a boost to tourism.
Demography
The largest ethnicity of Semarang includes the Javanese, followed by minorities of Chinese, Indian, Arabic, and others. The dominant religion is Islam.Semarang has a large Chinese community. As in other regions of Java, especially in Central Java, they have mingled closely with the local population and use Javanese in communication for hundreds of years. About 4-5 % of the city's population is ethnic Chinese, many residing in a Chinatown in the vicinity of Gang Pinggir. The Chinatown is called "Kampong Pecinan Semawis" and expresses many aspects of traditional Chinese culture including foods, rituals, and houses of worship.
Economy
As the capital city of Central Java, and fifth largest city of Indonesia, economy of Semarang is quite large. Semarang has transformed and changed dynamically towards a better direction. In a period of less than 10 years, Semarang Metropolitan continues to build a vital financial contribution to Indonesia due to the growing trade and industry and services. As a consequence, people's purchasing power increased, capital inflows, consumer confidence and doing business indexes were relatively conducive to the development of several Central business district such as Simpang Lima City Center , Pemuda Central Business District , and Gajahmada Golden Triangle . Major Indonesian and international financial and banking sectors alikes such the Bank Mandiri, BCA, BNI, BRI, Panin Bank, HSBC, Permata, Standard Chartered, RaboBank, Citibank, DBS, UOB, OCBC NISP, KEB Hana Bank, CIMB NIAGA, Maybank have regional offices in Semarang.The western part of the city has many industrial parks and factories. Like other metropolitan cities within Indonesia, due to developing economy and robust increasng income Semarang homes for many shopping malls like Ciputra Mall, Simpang Lima Plasa, Paragon City, Java Supermall, DP Mall, Pollux Central City, the under concstructions ones: Queen City Mall, Tentrem Simpang Lima, Uptown Mall at BSB and the Park Semarang. The supermarket and department store chains Hypermart, Giant, and Carrefour Transmart also have presence beneath the city. Carrefour Transmart presences in 4 places the Transmart Setiabudi at South Semarang, Transmart Majapahit at East Semarang, Carrefour at DP Mall Central Semarag and Carrefour at SMC Tlogorejo Hospital located at SLCC the Simpang Lima City Center CBD at Central Semarang. Uniqlo an infamous brand from Japan and H&M respectively open their presence within the city by 2019 and 2020 in DP Mall one of Sinarmas properties spots in Pemuda Central Business District.
Transport
Road
Semarang is on Indonesian National Route 1 which connects it to Merak and Ketapang. Indonesian National Route 14 toward Bawen starts here. Semarang has a toll road, the Semarang Toll Road. The city is connected to Solo by Semarang–Solo Toll Road.Semarang's largest bus terminals are Mangkang and Terboyo. The primary means of public transportation is by minibus, called "bis". Ojek, Angkot micro-buses, taxi-cabs plays vital role in public transportation of the city. Go-Jek and Grab have taxi and Ojek services.
Semarang is served by bus rapid transit called Trans Semarang, which operates in six routes. Perum DAMRI also serves in six designated routes in the city.
Rail
Semarang was connected to Surakarta by a rail line in 1870. At present there are two large train stations in Semarang: Semarang Poncol and Semarang Tawang. Semarang is connected to Bandung, Jakarta, and Surabaya by inter-city train services.Air
Semarang's Ahmad Yani International Airport is served by a number of operators including AirAsia, Silk Air, Citilink, Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air, and Lion Air which provide services to Jakarta, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. In 2018, the airport was relocated to a new and much larger site; the old airport continues to be used for government and military flights.Sea
The main seaport is the Tanjung Mas seaport., the largest mosque in the city.
Landmarks and places of interest
- Semarang old town, which is sometimes referred to by locals as "Little Netherlands." It was established in the 18th century when Indonesia was a Dutch colony. There are more than 50 well-maintained colonial buildings in Kota Lama, displaying 18th, 19th, and 20th century European-influenced architecture.
- China Town: China town in Semarang has a night market known as 'Pasar Semawis', which is known for its cuisine and Chinese new year celebration.
- Tugu Muda is a monument built to commemorate the services of the heroes who have fallen in the :id:Pertempuran Lima Hari|Battle of Five Days in Semarang. The height of Tugu Muda is 53 meters. Tugu Muda is located in front of Lawang Sewu at Pemuda street. It depicts the Tugu Muda fighting spirit and patriotism of Semarang residents, especially the youth who are persistent, self-sacrificing in high spirits maintaining the independence of Indonesia.
- Lawang Sewu was built as the headquarters of the Dutch East Indies Railway Company. The colonial era building is reputedly a haunted house.
- Blenduk Church was built in 1753, the church is one of the oldest building in Kota Lama.
, the oldest Chinese temple in the city.
- The Sam Poo Kong temple is the oldest Chinese temple in the city. Tay Kak Sie Temple was established in 1746, it is dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva and various Taoist Deities.
- Central Java Grand Mosque: This mosque has a Muslim museum, located at Jl. Gajah Raya. The architecture of the mosque is inspired by the mosques in Mecca and Medina.
- Vihara Buddhagaya Watugong: The 45-meter Buddhist Temple has been named by MURI as the highest pagoda in Indonesia. It's located at Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Watugong, about 45 minutes drive from the center.
- Pancasila Square: Located within the heart of Simpang Lima City Center CBD; is an infamous public arena at the town center. It has tourist pedicabs, cars, bicycles, chairs, pedestrian track, public toilet, roller skates, traditional games, grass field and others.
Culture
Education
There are 593 elementary schools, 220 junior high schools, 106 senior high schools, and 88 vocational high schools, both public and private in Semarang.There are 20 universities in Semarang, 12 of them private and 8 public. The most renowned universities of Semarang are Diponegoro University and Soegijapranata University.
- Diponegoro University : It is one of national or state-owned universities in Semarang, founded in 1956. The university has 11 faculties: Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Fishery and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Animal Agriculture, and Faculty of Psychology. The university also offers a postgraduate program.
- Soegijapranata Catholic University : It is one of the private universities in Semarang, founded in 1982. There are 8 faculties in UNIKA: Faculty of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Law and Communication, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Language and Arts, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Agricultural and Technology, Faculty of Psychology, and Faculty of Computer Science.
Sports
Knight Stadium is a futsal and basketball centre in Semarang, located in Grand Marina complex. There is a café and fitness centre in Knight Stadium.
Cuisine
Semarang is widely known for its bandeng presto, Lumpia, Wingko, Tahu Gimbal, and Ganjel Rel. Semarang has also been called 'The city of Jamu' because it is an important centre for the production of jamu which are a range of Indonesian herbal medicines that are popular across Indonesia Semawis Market, also known as Pecinan Semarang, hosts a plethora of street food vendors, offering a wide varieties of dishes.Festivals
is an annual festival in Semarang desecrated to welcome the Ramadan month. The word "dug" describes the sound of bedug. The word "der" describes the sound of fireworks.The icon of the festival is a special puppet dragon-like animal called Warak Ngendog. The word "warak" stands for "holy" and the word "ngendog" expresses a reward for Moslems. Warak Ngendog's feet are chained, representing people's desire that should be postponed during this holy month. As Dugderan is a festival unique for Semarang, it represents an important attraction for both local people and visitors.
Awards
Semarang has got Adipura Award for 6 times in a row since 2012. Adipura Award is given for achievement in cleanliness and greenery at parks, streets, markets, shop buildings, premises, schools, even cleanliness of water ways and rivers. Semarang City received the title of Best Smart Living and Best Smart Economy City in the Indonesia Smart Nation Award 2018.Greater Semarang
Greater Semarang was initially defined by the government as Semarang, Semarang Regency, the newly carved Salatiga city, Kendal Regency, and Demak Regency. Despite the definition, this includes a lot of rural areas and the urban cores remain distinct; they have not amalgamated into a characterless metro area as in Greater Jakarta.| Administrative division | Area | Population '000s | Population '000s | Population '000s | Population density |
| Semarang Municipality | 373.67 | 1,339 | 1,556 | 1,699 | 4,547 |
| Semarang Regency | 946.86 | 843 | 931 | 1,000 | 1,056.1 |
| Salatiga Municipality | 52.96 | 151 | 170 | 181 | 3,417.7 |
| Kendal Regency | 1,002.27 | 850 | 900 | 942 | 939 |
| Demak Regency | 897.43 | 974 | 1056 | 1117 | 1244.7 |
| Grobogan Regency | 1,975.865 | 1,268 | 1,309 | 1,351 | 683.7 |
| Greater Semarang | 5,287.96 | 5,425,000 | 5,922,000 | 6,290,000 | 1,189.7 |
Sources: BPS Jateng
Notable people from Semarang
- Agung Laksono, politician and former Chairman of the House of Representatives.
- Anindya Kusuma Putri, Puteri Indonesia 2015 and Top 15 of Miss Universe 2015.
- Anne Avantie, fashion designer.
- Aries Susanti Rahayu, speed climbing world champion.
- Be Biauw Tjoan, Majoor-titulair der Chinezen, magnate, revenue farmer and bureaucrat
- Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich, Dutch admiral.
- Daniel Sahuleka, Dutch musician.
- Fuad Hassan, politician, former Minister of Education and Culture.
- Hubertus van Mook, Dutch politician.
- Jaya Suprana, musician, writer, TV talkshow host, founder of MURI
- Liem Bwan Tjie, architect.
- Oei Hui-lan, First Lady of the Republic of China, international socialite and fashion icon.
- Oei Tiong Ham, Majoor-titulair der Chinezen, Chinese Indonesian tycoon.
- P. F. Dahler, politician, member of Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence.
- Purnomo Yusgiantoro, politician and current Minister of Defence.
- Raden Saleh, painter.
- Rob Nieuwenhuys, literary historian and author.
- Sutiyoso, chief of Indonesian Intelligence Bureau.
- Tukul Arwana, comedian and television personality.
- Willem Einthoven, medical doctor, invented electrocardiography, Nobel Prize winner.
- Stella Cornelia, singer and actress, ex-member of JKT48
- Max van Egmond, bass and baritone singer of Baroque and Renaissance music.
- Sri Oetari Ratna Dewi, politician
Sister cities
- Brisbane, Australia
- Da Nang, Vietnam
- Palu, Indonesia