Overview

This beautifully conserved park played host to Batavia's administrative center in the 18th century. Found at the south end of the imposing city hall (now the Fatahillah Museum or the Jakarta History Museum) the town square served as the venue for various public events, from lively fairs to gory executions. In the center of the square now sits a small domed structure, constructed in 1972 by Governor Ali Sadikin as a replica of an old water fountain. The original once spouted contaminated water, thus contributing to the high mortality rate among the Dutch at that time. Admission is free.