Sunda Kelapa, Historic port in North Jakarta City, Indonesia
Sunda Kelapa is an old port neighborhood in North Jakarta where wooden Pinisi schooners from South Sulawesi still carry goods between Indonesian islands. The wooden vessels dock along a long wharf beside the Ciliwung River, surrounded by warehouses and covered market stalls nearby.
Portuguese traders signed trade agreements here in 1522, offering military protection in exchange for access to the regional pepper trade. Later, Dutch merchants took over the harbor and it became the foundation for the development of the colonial settlement Batavia.
The name refers to the ancient Sunda kingdom that once shipped coconuts and other goods from this waterfront. Today, crews of Bugis sailors gather along the wharf to maintain their hand-built vessels and prepare cargo for the next voyage.
The adjacent fish market begins operations at three in the morning, and most trading between local merchants takes place until six o'clock. A visit in the early morning offers the chance to watch the greatest activity, though the harbor area remains accessible during the day as well.
Workers manually unload materials such as timber, coal, and spices from the wooden vessels, using traditional methods without mechanical equipment. The crews often sleep aboard their schooners, using them as floating homes during long port stays.
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