Fatahillah Square, Heart Of Derelict Town

Steal the game: A group of children play soccer in Fatahillah Square. Many children take advantage of the square to play sports, due to lack of open-air playgrounds in the city. (JP/PJ Leo)

Jakarta - At the heart of the Old Town area, lies Fatahillah Square, a 1.5-hectare plot of land in front of the Jakarta Historical Museum.

In September 2007, the city administration began its Old Town revitalization program by restoring Fatahillah Square, but not much face-lifting has been done since then.

The square is still a hub for people going to the Old Town area. Many only identify the Old Town with the areas nearby the square, discounting Sunda Kelapa harbor in North Jakarta and Pekojan area in West Jakarta.

This comes as no surprise, since the square is pretty much the only decent place for people from all walks of life to hang out.

Families, heritage lovers, budding photographers, students and lovers flock to the square especially at the weekend.

Museums around the square, although boasting interesting collections, are less popular than the square itself.

The city administration has tried to coax investors into revitalizing the area by restoring close to 200 rundown yet historical buildings. However, bad traffic, smelly rivers and a number of seedy spots in Old Town have deterred big money from coming there.

But the flock that does come to the square shows the Old Town has not lost its charm.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com (18 April 2009)

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