Jakarta History Museum

Housed in the former city hall of Batavia on the main square of Jakarta's old town, this museum traces the capital's history from prehistoric settlement through the Dutch trading era to the modern metropolis. The sturdy 18th-century building retains its original courtyards, heavy timber beams, and dungeon cells once used by the colonial administration. Galleries display antique furniture, ceramics, maps, and cannons, while the cobbled plaza outside draws buskers and cyclists. It is a central anchor of the restored Kota Tua district.