Lawang Sewu - Semarang Attractions in Central Java

Lawang Sewu Semarang is an old building in Semarang, Central Java, which is an office of the Nederlands-Indische Maatschappij or NIS Spoorweg. Built in 1904 and completed in 1907 is located at the roundabout Tugu Muda formerly called Wilhelminaplein. 

Local people call it Lawang Sewu (Thousand Doors) is because the building has a door that very much. In fact, there is not a door to a thousand. The building has many windows high and wide, so people often think of it as the door (mace). 

Ancient buildings and magnificent two-story is used as an office after Independence Djawatan Train Indonesian republic (DKARI) or now PT Kereta Api Indonesia. In addition, once used as the Office of National Infrastructures Regional Military Command (military command IV / Diponegoro) Regional Office (Regional Office) Ministry of the Transportation Central Java. In the era of the building has its own history that is when the incident took place five days Battle of Semarang (14 October to 19 October 1945). The old building became the location of a great battle between youth AMKA or The Young Railway against Kempeitai and Kidobutai, Japan. Therefore Semarang City Government Decree No. Mayor. 650/50/1992, enter Lawang Sewu as one of 102 ancient or historic buildings in the city of Semarang that should be protected. 

Lawang Sewu - Semarang attractions in Central Java

Currently the old building has undergone a phase of conservation and revitalization undertaken by Conservation Unit objects and historic buildings PT Kereta Api Persero.


History of Lawang Sewu
Lawang Sewu is one of the historic buildings were built by the Dutch colonial administration, on February 27, 1904 Originally the building was set to be used as Hoofdkantoor van de Nederlansch Het Indische Spoorweg Maatscappij (NIS) or Office of Private Railway Company NIS.

Office administration activities previously carried out at Station Samarang NIS NIS. However, the growth of the railway network quite rapidly, and need for increasing the number of technical and administrative personnel who are not a bit along with the increasing activity of the office. One result of the Semarang Station management office at NIS becomes no longer adequate. NIS also rented several buildings belonging to the individual as an interim solution. However, it is deemed inefficient. Not to mention the location where the Semarang NIS Station located in the marshes to matters of sanitation and health is an important consideration. Then it was decided to build administrative offices at the new location. The choice fell to land at that time is in the suburbs adjacent to the residence of the Resident. It's on the tip of Bodjongweg Semarang (now Jalan Youth), at the meeting point and the Semarang naar Bodjongweg Kendalweg (highway towards Kendal).

NIS entrust the design of the NIS headquarters building in Semarang to Prof. Jacob F. Klinkhamer (TH Delft) and B.J. Ouendag, an architect who lives in Amsterdam. The whole design process is done in the Netherlands, then the images were taken to the city of Semarang. Viewing of Lawang Sewu blueprint written that the site plan and building plan has been drawn in Amsterdam in 1903 Similarly completeness of his images were made and signed in Amsterdam in 1903.

For those of you who love to visit the place - ancient historical places, there is no harm if you prove the uniqueness of the building Lawang Sewu Semarang.