Lapangan Banteng (Indonesian: "Bull's Field", formerly Waterloo Square (Dutch: Waterlooplein) in Batavia, Dutch East Indies) is a historic square located in a historic area formerly known as Weltevreden, today Sawah Besar subdistrict, Central Jakarta, Indonesia.
Lapangan Banteng Park is located in the area. There are also streets named Jalan Lapangan Banteng Utara (north), Selatan (south), Barat (west) and Timur (east), surrounding the square.
Description
The square measures roughly 230 x 250 metres, with orientation slightly tilted east north east from the northeast corner of Merdeka Square. The West Irian Liberation Monument column built in 1963 stood in the center of the square. A causeway spanned west-east in the center divide the square into two parts; the northern parts which hosts sport facilities which includes football field and athletic tracks, and the southern half which host a park with half-circle shaped pond with illuminated fountain and open air theatre.
The square is surrounded by important buildings; former Daendels' palace, the Witte Huis (White House), today Indonesian Ministry of Finance occupy the eastern side, Jakarta Central Post Office on the northern side, Jakarta Cathedral on northwest corner, Istiqlal Mosque also on northwest corner, Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs on southwest corner, and Hotel Borobudur occupy the whole southern side.
During colonial period of the Dutch East Indies, the square serves as the military parade fields. It was the site of a statue to Jan Pieterszoon Coen who won control of Batavia, also the Lion column of Waterloo memorial (both are demolished).
History
There were two main squares in Weltevreden: Buffelsveld and Paradeplaats. The squares took shape during the governorship of Daendels in early 19th century. The squares were military in character: the Paradeplaats ("Parade Ground") was the main parade and the ceremonial square. The Buffelsveld ("Buffalo Field") was renamed Champ de Mars due to French influence and was mainly used as a military exercise field.
In 1828, the Waterloo Monument was erected to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo. The monument was a tall white column topped with a statue of a lion. The square was subsequently renamed to Waterlooplein, a name that would only be changed following the proclamation of the Indonesian independence in 1945. Because of the lion statue on the monument, the lion is also locally known as the Leeuwinplaats ("Lioness Square"). The simple-shaped monument with its relatively small-sized statue of lion was frequently ridiculed by the locals of Batavia, some people claiming that the lion looked more like a poodle.
As part of the affluent neighborhood of Weltevreden, the Waterlooplein is a fashionable place in Batavia's Upper Town. Once a week, a military orchestra was played in public. People from the upper rank of the society paraded around the square with their horse-drawn carriages.
Governor General Herman Willem Daendels originally intended to have the government centralized in Waterloo Square and had a palace built there. However the plan wasn't carried out by his predecessor and the construction was delayed and the mansion of van Braam in Rijswijk became the residence of the governor-general. Daendels Palace was later completed in 1828 to become the department of finance building. Hotel van den Gouverneur-Generaal (Hotel of the Governor-General) became the official name of the van Braam mansion. Daendels — known as an avid Francophile — built a new governor general palace in smaller version Chateau de Versailles or more precisely the French Empire style in Batavia, known as Witte Huis (White House) is often referred to Groote Huis (Big House). It is now Indonesia's Ministry of Finance office on the east side of Lapangan Banteng (Waterlooplein). He also renamed Buffelsveld (buffalo field) to Champs de Mars (today Merdeka Square). Daendels' rule oversaw the complete adoption of Continental Law into the colonial Dutch East Indies law system, retained even until today in Indonesian legal system.
Eventually the palace became too cramped and a new palace was planned in 1869. The new palace was completed in 1873 facing Koningsplein (King's Square). It was known as Koningsplein Palace, part of the Rijswijk, Indonesia compound.