Penelehhistory.com: Surabaya (1/8/24) – “Surabaya is the Rotterdam of Java”. This statement was made by HP Berlage, a modern architect at the beginning of the 20th century. He continued the design of the Singa building, which was officially called the De Algemeene Insurance Building, which was built in 1901.
Meanwhile, Berlage himself only came to Surabaya in May 1923 on a visit to the Dutch East Indies that he dreamed of . After seeing the city of Surabaya, in his diary, he wrote that Surabaya was the Rotterdam of Java.
It is not surprising why there is an impression like that of Surabaya in Berlage’s eyes. Naturally, the two cities, Surabaya and Rotterdam, both have main rivers with similar names. Surabaya has Kalimas. Rotterdam has De Maas.
Both are also port cities that are busy with ships bound for foreign countries. International port. Above the two rivers, Kalimas (Surabaya) and De Maas (Rotterdam), there are lift bridges. Unfortunately the lift bridge in Surabaya has become a distant memory. Meanwhile the lift bridge in Rotterdam is still functional.
In the field of education, in Surabaya there are several cool universities, one of which is Airlangga University. Meanwhile in Rotterdam there is Erasmus University (Erasmus University Rotterdam).
There are still other similarities. For example, in the field of culture. Rotterdam has historically been home to a diversity of nationalities. Likewise with the city of Surabaya where multi-nationalities once lived in Surabaya. The proof is the Peneleh Cemetery which is known as the Peneleh European Cemetary.
Due to this similarity, there are various parties from the Dutch side, who understand history, who have tried to preserve these values. Both historical value, cultural heritage and education. Not to mention from the perspective of its economic and trade value which is inscribed in its historical records.
The Director of the Erasmus Training Center in Jakarta, Fons van Oosterhout, has plans to visit Surabaya and is interested in the history of the Old City of Surabaya which is currently viral. Even if in the future there is talk of establishing a Dutch language course in the European Zone, the Old City area of Surabaya, then that would be an appropriate thing. Because the presence of Dutch culture in the form of this language will color the educational European zone.
Dutch is a source language (bronnentaal) for various scientific disciplines, especially law, archives, history, as well as Dutch itself as a language of communication. It would be a strengthening of Kota Lama if there was a Dutch language course in the European zone. (Nng)