Merdeka Square, Central square in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Merdeka Square is a roughly one-square-kilometre open space in central Jakarta, crossed by four diagonal streets called Jalan Silang Monas that form an X and divide it into North, East, South and West parks. At the centre stands the National Monument, a tall white column with a gold flame-shaped top on a stepped base, surrounded by a paved plaza. The parks hold large shade trees, gardens, reflecting pools and a musical fountain on the western side.

The square began as Buffelsveld, a water-buffalo grazing field, and was renamed Koningsplein in 1818 after the governor-general moved into the nearby palace. In 1942 it became Lapangan Ikada under Japanese occupation, and on 19 September 1945 Sukarno gave his independence speech there before a mass meeting. Renamed Medan Merdeka in 1949, it was rebuilt from 1961 with the National Monument, completed in 1976.

The National Monument at the center is understood by Indonesians as a symbol of their independence and shapes how the space feels. Visitors notice groups gathering to photograph it and reflect on its meaning as a gathering place tied to the nation's identity.

Four diagonal streets, Jalan Silang Monas, cross the square and divide it into North, East, South and West parks, with the monument at the centre. The streets are closed to motor vehicles and a fence runs around the perimeter. The paved plaza around the monument is exposed, so visit in the morning or late afternoon.

The deer enclosure sits in the southeast corner of the square, where the animals roam among shady trees. It is one of the few parts of the former Koningsplein that still serves a recreational rather than ceremonial purpose.