Onrust Island Museum is a Dutch heritage building dating back to the 17th century complete with mock-ups, miniatures, a shipyard, and a fort.
Photo source: pulauseribu.co.id
Kepulauan Seribu (The Thousand Islands) can be an alternative vacation for Jakarta residents who want to enjoy the beach atmosphere without having to go far. When crossing this group of islands, you can see one of the islands with a fort that is still standing which is sure to make you curious. This island is Onrust Island which is located adjacent to Bidadari Island.
On this island, you can still see Dutch heritage buildings such as a fort and also an ancient port that has been around since the 17th century. Archaeological remains from the Dutch colonial period as well as houses that are still intact are used as the Onrust Island Museum.
Photo source: pulauseribu.co.id
In this museum, you can trace the times of the Dutch colonial era. In one room, you can see photographs hanging on the wall showing Onrust Island's last function, namely as a quarantine island for prospective pilgrims in the early 1900s.
In the next room, there is a mockup of Onrust Island during the heyday of the Netherlands. You can see various miniature buildings, shipyards, and forts that are still intact. By looking at this mockup, you can certainly imagine how the condition of Onrust Island was in ancient times.
Photo by Idris Hasibuan on Unsplash
Towards the back of the museum, there are ceramic shards, tools, bottles, flower vases, and jars that don't come from Indonesia. This relic proves that Onrust Island was once an island where international traders passed by. Therefore, the name Onrust was taken to be the name of this island which means 'never rest' in Dutch.
To visit Onrust Island, you can depart using a speedboat with a regular schedule that departs from Marina Ancol Beach or uses a fishing boat from Muara Kamal Harbor to Bidadari Island which is a tourism island. From Bidadari Island there are usually tour packages that offer you to visit Onrust Island and also the surrounding islands such as Kelor Island and Cipir Island. So, do you know when to go?