Dutch Architecture in Kota, Jakarta

For an incursion in Jakarta's history head to Kota where you'll find what's left of old Batavia's capital. Old buildings still remain there to remind of the once powerful Dutch presence in Jakarta. They're not in the best shape but some of them were restored to their previous beauty and now house art and history museums. The highlight of Kota's Dutch architecture remains is Gereja Sion, the Black Portuguese Church, the oldest church in Jakarta dating from 1695. It has kind of a dark history, as it was built for slaves brought to Batavia by the Dutch. Going north you'll find an old Dutch drawbridge spanning the Kali Besar canal, a replica of the ones you can actually see in the Netherlands. It's the last one in Jakarta and it's named the Chicken Market Drawbridge. Another reminder of the Dutch colonial times is Toko Merah, the former residence of Governor Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff.