Kota Tua, Jakarta's old town, to get new lease of life in revitalisation as tourism spot

The Kota Intan bridge in Jakarta's old town bears resemblance to the Magere Brug in Amsterdam, with both bridges first built in the 17th century. ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA
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JAKARTA - The last standing drawbridge built by the Dutch in Indonesia will feature prominently when Jakarta completes a plan to turn its old-town area on the northern coastline into a tourism draw.

The Kota Intan bridge - Bahasa for diamond city - was once near a bastion of a fort for the Dutch East India company, or VOC, at the Sunda Kelapa port. It was built as a conventional bridge by the VOC in 1628, but was modified in 1938 into a drawbridge to allow boats to pass under.

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