Kerkhoflaan, old cemetery in the middle of Tanah Abang

I never knew that there was an old cemetery in Tanah Abang area until back in year 2008, when I had to go to government office in Tanah Abang area. When I parked my car, I saw a cemetery with antique gravestone design through the fence. It was right next to the government office. And it was slip from my mind until a couple of months ago, I remembered and I just had to come by and see it. The name at the front gate is Museum Taman Prasasti. Yes, it is a museum, all the human remains were already relocated. They preserved the gravestone, most of them are made from excellent marble quality.

Got myself a ticket and a tour guide to explain the history of this quiet and peaceful place.

Taman Prasasti Museum was built from an old cemetery that operated since 1795, known as Kebon Jahe Kober. It was meant for noble/aristocratic Dutchman and high rank officials back in VOC period in Dutch East Indies (later became Batavia). But eventually, it was open for public Christian.

In 1975, it was closed and renovated,  turned it into Taman Prasasti Museum by governor Ali Sadikin.     

Most of the museum is an open area to display the beautiful sculptures and inscriptions or tomb stones in lovely garden.

Deep respect for the notable demonstrator from University of Indonesia back in 1966. He was one of young Indonesian intellectual. Soe Hok Gie (1942-1969).

[Above] Olivia Raffles was buried next to her close friend, John Casper Leyden.

This carriage is to transport of remains from sungai Krukut and kali Ciliwung to the cemetery (Kerkhoflaan in Dutch). The number of the horses to pull the carriage depends on the levels of nobility or officials rank. The greater number of horses the higher the rank of the deceased.

When the carriage arrived in Kerkhoflaan, the family of the deceased can wait and sit on the lobby where there were long concrete bench (Left picture). As you can see, in present time the bench already being re-designed in order to avoid beggars sleep on it, but we can still see the subtle curve that used to be a bench. The deceased will enter the gate (middle picture) and enter a room for burial preparation through the green door (Right picture) on the left or right after the gate depend on the gender male or female. 

Adami Caroli Claessens, who renovated Cathedral church in 1890-1901 that got ruined in May 1890. Calessens died in the middle of renovation process in 1893.

Founder of STOVIA, School tot Opleiding van Indische Artsen. A medical school for the training of native physicians that was become Medical faculty, University of Indonesia.

The unfinished tomb, the truncated-column appearance, was to express the deceased dream that has not been achieved in his/her past life (First & second pictures from left). The picture on the right is the perfect column expressed the deceased has achieved what had been her goal in her life. 

[Above] My tour guide explained the symbols that were grafted in gravestones when I asked what were the meanings of each symbol. The symbols in the upper section of the tomb is a Heraldic symbol, a family crest. And if you look down, after the family crest, there is a Skull and bones is a freemason symbol. So the deceased was a freemason member. Below 'HK No. 28' is the short of Hollandsche Kerk No.28. This was a grave that was moved from Dutch cemetery (Hollandsche Kerk) that was beside a church Nieuw Hollandsche Kerk (Kerk = church) in 1795, that is now a Museum Wayang (Puppet Museum) in Fatahilah Museum complex.
[Below] Some symbols that I noticed that represent Freemason also.

As I was explained by my tour guide, I understand that this cemetery (Kerkhoflaan) is a replacement of an old Dutch cemetery in Neuw Hollandsche Kerk (in the present known as Museum Wayang in Kota Tua next to Museum Fatahilah). So there is a link between Museum Taman Prasasti and Museum Wayang. Below are images of Museum Wayang's evolution from time to time, from a church until what it has become now. -SK-
Ref: www.museumwayang.com