Museum Bank Indonesia

The Museum Bank Indonesia (MBI) is located in the Kota Tua (Old City) section of Jakarta in front of the Beos Kota rail station and adjacent to the Bank Mandiri Museum. The Museum is in a two-story Dutch colonial building constructed in 1909 that was originally a hospital and then transformed as the headquarters of the De Javashe Bank (DJB). After its independence from The Netherlands, DJB became Bank Indonesia, Indonesia’s central bank in 1953.

MBI was established as a follow-up to the mandate from the Governor of Bank Indonesia to build this Museum so that the public will be able to access information on the history, function and responsibility of Bank Indonesia as the country’s central bank. The Museum is not only a historical building but it is also a protected cultural heritage, serving as a media to display valuable historical collections from the past.

The process of developing MBI was completed in two stages. The first opening took place on December 15, 2006. The second and final development was officially inaugurated on July 21, 2009 by the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

MBI displays information about the history of the establishment of Bank Indonesia, the function and roles of Bank Indonesia, the policies issued by Bank Indonesia, and the history of the building as well as numismatic collections. The information is provided using the media such as: panel, multimedia, and diorama with text in both Indonesian and English. Items of numismatic interest are located in several locations throughout the Museum. On the first floor (lower level), there is the Money Printing and Distribution Room which demonstrates the process of money production from the ignition of an idea, to the printing process, distribution, withdrawal, and shredding of damaged money.

On the second floor (upper level), the Gold Room contains vast displays of monetary gold, including piles of gold ingots. The Numismatic Room comprises a comprehensive collection of Indonesian coins and paper money, whose displays are arranged chronologically and tell the history of Indonesian money.

The Jakarta Provincial Government and the Jakarta Travel Community in 2012 awarded MBI the “Top Overall Award for Jakarta’s Best Museum in 2012” in the Old Batavia area. Batavia was Jakarta’s original name, and renamed in 1942. “Old Batavia” is the present day part of North and West Jakarta.