Bank Indonesia Museum, Jakarta

Bank Indonesia Museum in Jakarta's Old Town, established by Bank Indonesia, is housed in a historical building that boasts impressive architecture. It was originally the headquarters of the Netherlands Indies gulden, also known as De Javasche Bank, the central bank of the Dutch East Indies. When Indonesia gained independence in 1953, the bank became nationalized as Bank Indonesia.

The building that currently houses the museum was constructed in the early 18th century on the site of Batavia's Inner Hospital. It was abandoned in 1780 when the central hospital moved to Weltevreden. The original hospital building was demolished in the early 20th century, and a new building designed by Eduard Cuypers was constructed in its place. Cuypers was a renowned Dutch architect known for incorporating indigenous Indonesian elements into his designs. The building's front facade was completed in 1909 in Neo-Renaissance architecture with Javanese decorations integrated into its details. The inner court of the building underwent renovation in 1926, which resulted in the incorporation of Art Deco elements into the design.

The Bank Museum was inaugurated in 2009, after a series of renovations and improvements by local authorities. It presents Indonesia’s financial evolution, including its first contact with Europeans, the effects of Dutch colonization on financial life, and the machines used in the banking process. Visitors can view old typewriters, phones, telegraphs, ATMs, money counting machines, and computers, as well as admire gold bullions displayed in one of the museum’s rooms and enter the bank’s “secret” safe. Short movies highlight the changes suffered by the local currency along the way, while the banking jargon is explained on the walls of another room.