4 - Diminishing distances: inland connections of the port of Tanjung Priok

Tanjung Priok, the port of Jakarta (former Batavia), was constructed in the late 19^th century in an attempt by the Dutch colonial government to create a maritime hub in the Netherlands Indies and in Southeast Asia. The new port works of Batavia were located at a remote spit of land, outside of the town center, and far from the old harbour Sunda Kelapa at the Ciliwung river. The planning of a complete new harbour away from the physical market place broke with traditional infrastructure concepts. Crucial for its success would be the means of transport and communications between city and port. Three connections were made through the marshlands: railways, a new canal and a road. Rapid progress of transport technology in the second half of the nineteenth century made the issue of infrastructure even more pressing. In this paper I will discuss the spatial and morphological integration of Tanjung Priok into Batavia and Jakarta in the period 1875-1957, and the consequences the works had both on the port city life and the environment.