Colonial architecture in Surabaya


Colonial architecture in Surabaya includes the legacy of neoclassical architecture and Dutch architecture built during the Dutch East Indies era. Kota Lama in Surabaya is a tourist attraction but faces problems with the deterioration of older buildings. It includes Dutch architecture, has an Arab quarter and areas exhibiting Chinese influence. Jembatan Merah is an area known for its Dutch architecture.
Cosman Citroen designed a city hall in 1916 and planned the area of Ketabang. Museum Bank Indonesia, Surabaya is located in the former Bank of Java branch building. The House of Sampoerna is a museum devoted to the history of clove cigarette manufacturing in Indonesia and is housed in a Dutch colonial building dating to 1864.
For many years after Indonesia became independent, the colonial buildings in the Old City were ignored. By the mid-2020s, however, that neighbourhood had come to be seen as key to boosting the city's economy by attracting tourists. In July 2024, the city formally launched a revitalised Old City, and within a few months city officials were pleased with the outcome of the revitalisation.
Even though a majority of Surabayans have negative views about the Dutch colonial era, they do admire the old buildings the colonists left behind. Volunteers have turned out in droves to clean up the Old City, and young Indonesians now flock to the area for the cultural experience, or to take the perfect Instagram photo.

List of buildings

Last official nameFormer namesYearArchitectLocationLatest imageOldest image
Apotik SimpangDe Simpangsche Apotheek; Toko Occasion and Toko Atal Sport1855 ; 1936 Herman Smeets ; Henri Estourgie
Balai Kota SurabayaGemeentehuis te Soerabaja / Raadhuis te Soerabaja / Staadhuis te Soerabaja1927Cosman Citroen
Balai Pemuda / Alun-Alun SurabayaSimpang Club or Simpangsche Societeit1907Westmaes
Gedung Algemeene / Gedung Singa / Gedung AperdiKantoor Algemeene1901Hendrik Petrus Berlage
Gedung Bank Mandiri KC Surabaya NiagaKantoorgebouw van ; Gedung Bank Exim1935Cosman Citroen
Gedung Bank Mandiri KCP Surabaya Jembatan MerahKantoor Nederlandsch-Indische Handelsbank1912George Elenbaas and Pieter Moojen
Gedung Bank Mandiri KCP Surabaya PahlawanKantoorgebouw Firma Lindeteves-Stokvis Soerabaia / Kihatama Butai / Glinding Tipis;1911–1913Eduard Cuypers
Gedung BNI KCP Jembatan Merah SurabayaKantoorgebouw van 1920Cosman Citroen and Jan Jacob Job
Gedung Cerutu / Gedung CigarJava Sugar Syndicate; Bridgestone; Kantor Said bin Oemar Bagil; Kantor Bank Bumi Daya; Bank Mandiri1916N.V. Maatsschappij Tot Exploitatie Van Het Bureau Gebroders Knaud
Gedung DPMPTSP Jawa TimurMeubelmagazijn Pröttel; Kantoor Surabaiasch Handelsblad; Kantor Suara Asia; Gedung Brantas; Kantor Harian Memorandum; Kantor Catatan Sipil Kota Surabaya; Kantor Dinas Perumahan Surabaya; Gedung Penanaman Modal Jawa Timur1912 or 1920Eduard Cuypers
Residentiehuis / Tuinhuis1795 ; 1810
Gedung MaybankNederlands Spaarbank; Nutsspaarbank; Bank Tabungan; Bank Internasional Indonesia1917
/ Whiteaway Laidlaw & Co; Het Engelsche Warenhuis; Chiyoda Store; SIOLA; Ramayana SiolaUnclear; possibly 1923
Gereja Kelahiran Santa Perawan MariaOnze Lieve Vrouw Geboorte Kerk / Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk1899–1900W. Westmaas and Muljono Widjosastro
Holycow x coffee toffeeKantor Pos Pembantu Simpang; Post shop coffee toffee1932G.P.J.M. Bolsius and Landsgebouwdienst
Hotel MajapahitOranje Hotel; Hotel Yamato; Hotel Merdeka; L. M. S. Hotel; Mandarin Oriental Hotel Majapahit1911Alfred Bidwell
Horison Arcadia Heritage SurabayaKantoor Geo Wehry; Hotel Ibis Rajawali1913–1914Marius Hulswit
Kantor Gubernur Jawa TimurGouverneurskantoor van Oost-Java or Gouverneurs Kantoor and Residentie Kantoor; Syuucho Office1929–1931Wijnand Lemei Jnr, assisted by Hubert Albert Breuning and WB Carmiggelt
Kantor Partai PDIKantoor ; Gedung 1927–1931Frans Ghijsels
Kantor Pertamina EP Asset 4Sociëteit Concordia; Kantoor Bataafche Petroleum Maatschappij ; Kantor Pertamina UPDN V1843 ; 1917–1918 JP Emerling ; Cosman Citroen
Kantor PTPNX1927–1928Charles Prosper Wolff Schoemaker
Kantoor van de Handelsvereeniging Amsterdam; Kantor PPN; Kantor PTPN1925Eduard Cuypers
Kantor telepon Surabaya Utara / Kantor Telkom GarudaKantor Tilpun Utara1913–1914Frans Ghijsels
LocaāhandsBoekhandel J.W.F. Sluyter Soerabaja; Van Dorp & Co; Toko Aneka Dharma; a car showroom; Bank Dagang Negara; Bank Bumi Daya/PT. Saver; Kantor Yayasan Majelis Dzikir Surabaya "Nurussalam"1925
Monumen Pers Perjuangan Surabaya / Media Center PJI-Monumen Pers / Gedung SeikoSimpangsche Bazaar; De Fikkert Motorcar; Piccolo Club; Toko Nam; Toko Kwang; Kantor Antara1886 ; 1904 ; 1938
Museum Bank Indonesia SurabayaDe Javasche Bank; Bank Indonesia1829 ; 1904 ; 1910 Eduard Cuypers
/ Dam Jagir / Banjir Sluis1916–1923 ; 1978 HW Vrijlandt
Pos Bloc SurabayaHoofkantoor Soerabaja; Kantor Pos Besar Surabaya; Kantor Pos Besar Kebonrojo1928G.P.J.M. Bolsius and BOW
Toko SavelkoulSavelkoul-winkels en andere1935Robert Deppe
Varna Culture HotelMagazijn Begeer van Kempen en Vos; Militaire kantine Koninklijke Marine; Kantor BCA KCP Tunjungan1917–1919Cosman Citroen