A unique view of the bridge over Kali Besar. This drawbridge, fully renovated during the time of Governor Ali Sadikin in the 1970s, dates back to 1628 and was known as Hoenderpasarbrug (Chicken Market Bridge) due to a nearby poultry market. Nowadays it is named Jembatan Kota Intan. It narrowly escaped demolition in 1937 when the Batavia City Council had progressed plans to demolish it. Thanks to a private initiative sufficient money could be raised to save the bridge. Most of the original wooden beams have been replaced by steel ones during the 1970s renovation.
MacLaine, Watson & Co
Equally (or maybe even more) interesting are the original premises of MacLaine, Watson & Co at the back along Kali Besar Barat (West). MacLaine, Watson & Co was one of Asia’s largest trading companies dating back to the 1820s. This elegant building already appeared on pictures from the 1870s, and we have still seen it on a Dutch Polygoon video of 1985. Unfortunately it does no longer exist. Somewhere between 1985 and 1995 the building was demolished and replaced by a nondescript structure.
source: NMVW, the Netherlands
