As a place to start cycling in West Java, Cirebon City Hall has a long history

Cirebon City Hall, West Java, is the starting place for Cycling de Jabar. This building holds a lot of city history.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

The view of Cirebon's City Hall in West Java on Thursday (May 23, 2024) afternoon. The century-old building became the starting point for Cycling de Jabar, a prestigious cycling race event in West Java. Cycling de Jabar began in Cirebon and will pass through Kuningan Regency, Majalengka, Ciamis, Banjar City, and end in Pangandaran at a distance of 213 kilometers.

CIREBON, KOMPAS — Cirebon City Hall, West Java, will be the starting place for Cycling de Jabar, a long-distance bicycle racing event, on Saturday (25/5/2024). Apart from being iconic, this building inherited from the Dutch Colonial Government also has a long history related to the city of Cirebon.

Cycling de Jabar is a prestigious bicycle racing competition created by the West Java Provincial Government and the daily Kompas (Kompas.id). This event will be held for the first time in 2022 on the Ciletuh Geopark route, Sukabumi Regency, to Pangandaran Regency with a distance of 319 kilometers.

In 2023, Cycling de West Java will continue to take a similar route. However, in the third year, the route changed from Cirebon City Hall to Pangandaran with a distance of 213 kilometers. The event also only lasted one day, no longer two days like the previous event.

Also read: Why is Cycling de West Java 2024 Interesting to Participate in?

In addition to Cirebon, cyclists will also pass through Kuningan, Majalengka, Ciamis, Kota Banjar, and Alun-alun Paamprokan, Pangandaran. The release of the cyclists at Cirebon City Hall is scheduled for Saturday at 05.00. Various preparations have also been made at the location.

Annisa Rheananda, the Event Conceptor for Jabar Cycling, stated that Cirebon City Hall was chosen as the starting point because it is easily accessible. For example, it is located near Cirebon Station and is located in the city center.

"The city hall is also quite historical. We have a mission to introduce the potential of West Java, especially to cyclists and bicycle enthusiasts. That's why we chose the Cirebon office," he said. The city hall is also close to tourist destinations, such as the Kasepuhan and Kanoman Palaces.

Cirebon City Hall is the center of government. The Head of the Cirebon Jeskoot Gemeente(Municipality) Public Works Department initiated the construction of this building in 1924, a century ago. Architects HP Handl and CFH Koll also designed the 868 square meter building.

Its construction was completed in 1927 during the tenure of Burgemeester (Mayor) RA Schotman (1925-1928). Built on a 15,770 square meter land, the construction of the white building, which was considered the most beautiful in West Java at the time, cost 165,000 guilders.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

The view of Cirebon's City Hall in West Java on Thursday (May 23, 2024) afternoon. The century-old building became the starting point for Cycling de Jabar, a prestigious cycling race event in West Java. Cycling de Jabar began in Cirebon and will pass through Kuningan Regency, Majalengka, Ciamis, Banjar City, and end in Pangandaran at a distance of 213 kilometers.

Initially, this building functioned as a raadhuis or place for members of the city representative council. The building is also often the location for European meetings and wedding parties. However, since the Japanese military era, the city hall has been a place for officials to work.

This building consists of three separate parts connected by a covered corridor. The middle part is the main building, where the mayor and vice mayor have their offices. The two buildings on the wings are for the press room and government administrative purposes.

Entering the main hall, there is a lobby with layered tile seating and wooden chairs. In the past, in the center of the circular lobby, there was a fountain pool as a cooler. However, now, the pool is covered with a glass layer containing Adipura awards.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

The atmosphere in front of the Cirebon City Hall, West Java, on Monday (22/4/2024). The Cirebon City Hall became the starting point for participants in the long-distance cycling event, Cycling de Jabar 2024.

On the second floor of this building there is a meeting room which has now become a command center (CC), where officials often hold virtual meetings. Outside the city hall, there is a garden and fountain with several gold shrimp statues.

Six shrimps, the main commodity at that time, were also attached to the end of the upper wall of the building. This coastal area is also known as "Shrimp City". Later, as shrimp production declined, the word shrimp was often called "business and trade".

Agustinus David, an archaeology student at the University of Indonesia, stated in his thesis "The Form and Style of Cirebon City Hall" (2010) that the building is influenced by European and local architectural styles. For example, cloud ornaments depicting the megamendung motif of Cirebon batik can be found on the stained glass in the doors and windows.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Portrait of Cirebon City Hall, West Java, illuminated by colorful lights, Saturday (19/1/2019) evening.

Apart from that, the shape of the main building is a protruding box like a tower, called a wall tower, which is often found in classical defensive forts in Europe. A similar pattern was also found at Surabaya City Hall. This indicates that the building was built following the fashion of the time.

Zaenal Masduqi in his book, Cirebon, from a Traditional City to a Colonial City (2011), said that the city hall in the shape of a ship's bridge reflects Cirebon as a coastal city. "At the beginning of the 20th century, this port city was ranked the 4th largest in Java," he wrote.

According to Masduqi, the construction of the city hall embodies the colonial government's desire to develop Cirebon. This determination is reflected in the motto "Per Aspera Ad Astra" which is affixed above the mayor's room door.

At the beginning of the 20th century, this port city was ranked the 4th largest in Java.

The meaning of that expression is from difficulties and swamps towards the stars or from darkness into light. Cirebon City used to be plagued by diseases. The river was dirty and became a breeding ground for diseases.

"In fact, there is a saying, whoever lives in Cirebon City must first become acquainted with heat illness," he wrote.

When it was raised as a municipality in 1906, Cirebon started to improve. The river was cleaned and water channels were repaired. The roads were also improved. Cigarette factories, hospitals, and even town halls were built. The economy revolved in line with the cleanliness of the city.

Now, Cirebon City Hall, which has a long history, has once again become a stage. Head of Culture and Tourism Office of Cirebon City, Agus Sukmanjaya, stated that Cirebon City Hall is designed to become a new tourist destination this year.

Almost every Saturday night, they hold cultural art events at the Cirebon City Hall. "This year, we are preparing a wayang orang museum at the city hall," said Agus.

Now, Cirebon City Hall has been featured again in the Cycling de Jabar event. The hope is that Cirebon's history and potential will be increasingly highlighted.

Also read: Cirebon City Hall, from Darkness to Light