Feel like a time traveler

A few days ago, I was lurking in Kaskus Regional Semarang and found an interesting thread about guessing old photos of some places in Semarang. The old photos of course were from the Dutch colonialism era. There are lots of interesting photos on that thread. And I could guess some of the photos because Semarang landscape nowadays is not too different from the past.

From that thread I also got the photo source website. The website is, what is it? Sorry, I forgot the web name. But, it is a Dutch language website. Then, I opened the website and looking for more Semarang old photos [or in Bahasa Indonesia, we call it Semarang Tempo Doeloe]. Some photos really interest me, so I decide to post it here too. And I’ll tell the differences between now and the past.

First, Semarang’s logo Above is maybe the Gementee Semarang’s logo. Maybe? Because I’m not sure it was used before 1906 or after. If it was used after 1906, it is the Gementee Semarang’s logo. Nevermind that. After all, it had ever used as Semarang’s logo.

Second, Wilhelmina Plein

Above is the photo of one of Semarang’s most famous place in the present days. That is Wilhelmina Plein with Lawang Sewu of course. There were no Tugu Muda back then. Since 1950s,Tugu Muda monument has built there to commemorate the 5 days battle against Japanese soldiers in Semarang, 1945. Can compare it with the photos of Tugu Muda I took last year. Third, Aloon-aloon Semarang Aloon-aloon with Masjid Agung Kauman. Very spacious room. A tram is passing by in the photo. Now, there’s no aloon-aloon anymore because since 1970s it has become traditional market. There’s no tram too in Semarang now. But, Masjid Agung Kauman is still there. Fourth, Parade Plein Parade Plein or now it is known as Taman Srigunting. Not too many differences between past and present. The buildings that are on photos above are still there. From left to right: Gedung Marba, Jiwasraya, and Gereja Blendug [that’s how we call that buildings now]. Parade Plein [Taman Srigunting] and Gereja Blendug in present days :

that's me

Fifth, Banjirkanal Dam Banjirkanal Dam or we call it Plered. I can’t tell the differences because it almost stills the same. The landscape of south Semarang also not changing. Photo above was taken from the dam. If you are in the dam now and looking to the same direction as that photo, maybe you’ll feel the same. What different is just that now there are lots of building in that area.

Photo above was also taken from the dam. But the direction is north. A bridge can be seen. Folks called this bridge as Kreteg Wesi [Iron Bridge] because it was made from iron. Some months ago, the bridge is destroyed and now a new bridge is still under construction.

Looking to those photos make me feel like I’m time traveling. For me, the old Semarang really interest and curious me. It is so much fun seeing old photos of Semarang and compares it to condition in the present days.