Harmony Society, Batavia

The Harmony Society (Dutch: Societeit de Harmonie) was an elite social club in Batavia, Dutch East Indies. It was the oldest clubhouse in Asia when it was demolished.^[1] The construction of the group's building included the former bricks of the wall of Old Batavia. It was demolished for road widening and parking area in 1985. Activities at the club included cards and billiards.^[1] Indigenous people were excluded from the club.^[1]

J.C. Schultze was the building's architect and also designed the Jakarta Art Building (Batavia Schouwburg).

The society building was constructed to convince Europeans to move from the old city centre (now

Kota, Jakarta) to the more southerly area of Weltevreden.^[2] The style of the building is Neoclassical. The area around it has been referred to as ‘Harmoni’ and its destruction prompted increased awareness of Indonesia's colonial heritage.^[2]

The club in Central Jakarta was located at the intersection of Jalan Veteran and Jalan Majapahit (called Rijswijk and Rijswijkstraat respectively during the Dutch colonial era).

The first societeit club built in Batavia was at Buiten Nieuwpoorstraat (now Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan) in West Jakarta. In 1810, Governor General

Daendels Palace at Waterlooplein

, to design the large clubhouse. He wanted it to compete and undermine the influence of the Freemasons and it was part of his plan to move the administrative center of Batavia to the southern district of

Kermis) was held at the club and the Harmonie hosted a party for the 250th anniversary of the city of Batavia May 29, 1869. The clubhouse's site is now a park and parking lot of the State Secretariat office.^[1]

Gallery

The Harmony Society and Oger Frères restaurant
Children swimming by the club
Garden area
Harmonie Club in Batavia

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Clubhouse Harmonie now a parking lot by Ida Indawati Khouw The Jakarta Post December 09 2000
^ ^a ^b Changing views on colonial heritage by Pauline van Roosmalen page 127
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Batavia in 19th century photographs by Scott Merrillees

6°10′05″S 106°49′16″E / 6.167927°S 106.821246°E / -6.167927; 106.821246

External links

Media related to Sociëteit Harmonie at Wikimedia Commons

[post-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Clubhouse Harmonie now a parking lot by Ida Indawati Khouw The Jakarta Post December 09 2000

[roo-2] Changing views on colonial heritage by Pauline van Roosmalen page 127

[pho-3] Batavia in 19th century photographs by Scott Merrillees

[1]

[2]

Gallery

See also

References

External links