Harmoni Jakarta

Harmonie of old ( Top) - Old Pictures courtesy from Tropenmuseum

View of Molenvliet West (Gaja Madah now) from Harmonie and a glimpse of Hotel des Indies on the right ( above)

View of Gaja Madah in present times, from the "location of Hotel des Indies" towards the "location of Harmonie" ( top & below)

Harmoni has been synonymous now to the Busway terminal as seen in the "now pictures" that serves commuters in central Jakarta. It has been an area where famous landmarks existed such as the Societeit de Harmonie ( Harmoni Club ) that stood at the junction of Jalan Veteran (Rijswijk) and Jalan Majapahit (Rijswijkstraat) and the Hotel Des Indies at Jalan Gaja Madah ( Molenvliet West).

The establishment of Societeit de Harmonie was continued when British occupied the Netherlands Indies by Lieutenant General Raffles in 1812. By late 1814, construction had been completed and Raffles opened the club officially in 18th of January 1815. That date was chosen to coincide with the official birthday of Queen Charlotte, wife of the British King George III.Legend has it that Raffles threw the front door keys into the canal in front of the clubhouse, and declared that the doors of the club would never close. It was also referred to as the Jenewerpaleis.