The museum occupies the former VOC warehouses that were used to store spices like pepper and nutmeg before shipment to Europe.
The western warehouse building dates back to 1652, while the eastern warehouse was completed in 1774.
The exhibits include a traditional Jukung, a small, narrow outrigger boat used by coastal communities across the archipelago.
One gallery is dedicated to the history of the legendary Majapahit navy, which once dominated regional waters.
The site survived a major fire in 2018, which led to significant restoration efforts to preserve the original 17th-century structure.
Museum Bahari, or the Maritime Museum, is housed within the original 18th-century Dutch East India Company (VOC) warehouses in the Sunda Kelapa harbor area. The exhibits chronicle Indonesia's history as a maritime nation, focusing on traditional shipbuilding, naval technology, and seafaring culture. Visitors can explore displays of traditional vessels like the Pinisi schooners and various types of outrigger canoes. The museum building itself serves as a historical artifact, retaining its original thick masonry walls and wooden structural supports from the colonial era. It highlights the significance of Indonesian maritime trade routes and the cultural diversity inherent in the country’s archipelagic identity.
The long, atmospheric corridor featuring the original wooden beams and arched windows of the VOC warehouse.
Bring portable fans or water, as the historical warehouse building lacks modern air conditioning in many sections.
Visit the nearby Sunda Kelapa harbor after the museum to see the actual traditional Pinisi wooden cargo ships still in operation.
Use insect repellent, as the proximity to the canal and harbor can lead to high mosquito activity.
Do not rely solely on the museum for information on the surrounding area; it is best combined with a walk through the adjacent Dutch colonial fishing port.
Closed on Mondays and national public holidays.
Modest dress is required as it is a public facility in Indonesia; refrain from touching the preserved wooden artifacts.
