Penelehhistory.com: Surabaya (27/5/24) – There are other interesting things from the Peneleh European Graveyard. Its existence is monumental. Peneleh’s Graveyard could be a marker of the presence of the European community in the Dutch East Indies era in the second half of the 19th century.
There were many important people and officials who contributed to the Dutch East Indies before Indonesia was proclaimed in 1945. Now the Peneleh European Cemetery has no longer opened any new cemeteries. Alias has stopped and died.
Currently, this Graveyard is under conservation efforts by a joint team from Surabaya (Begandring Soerabaia) and Amsterdam (TiMe Amsterdam. They are a team of history and cultural heritage activists from Surabaya (Indonesia) and Amsterdam (Netherland) in a project “Peneleh as a Living Library” .
The Peter Merkus cemetery is on the northwest side of the cemetery area. Near the wall that coincides with the jalan Makam Peneleh, formerly known as Kerkhoff. On the wall of this grave there is an entrance with old iron bars which provides access to and from the tomb. Behind this wall and fence is the tomb of Governor General Peter Merkus. The tomb has a black fence in a gothic style.
The grave of Governor General Peter Merkus is also included in the Peneleh as a Living Museum project activities. Peter was a central official who died in Surabaya while carrying out his duties and was later buried in Surabaya. He got a special burial location. Near the road and entrance.
This is different from Pietermaat, the Resident of Surabaya who died in 1848. Because he was an important official, he was buried in a strategic place. Namely in the middle of the cemetery area with an area of around 5 hectares. His grave is right in the tomb vortex and is located in the middle of the road corridor.
Peneleh’s Graveyard is part of Peneleh as a whole. The Peneleh Graveyard, which no longer serves new cemeteries, has become an important monument in Surabaya, which could be an arena for diplomatic cooperation in the field of shared history between Indonesia and the Netherlands. History is the past, which should be used as a basis for mutually beneficial cooperation to look to the future of the two nations.
Among the thousands of bodies that have rested there, there are two that seem monumental. Namely the graves of Surabaya Resident Daniel Franscois Willem Pietermaat and Governor General Peter Merkus. Actually, Peter Merkus died before the Peneleh graveyard was opened. Merkus died at the Grahadi State Building in 1844. Meanwhile, the Peneleh Graveyard was opened on December 1 1847. There was a time difference between when he died in 1844 and when he was buried at Peneleh after the opening in 1847.
There is a difference of 3 years. He died in 1844 and he was buried after the official opening of the tomb in 1847. It turns out that for 3 years he was resting near the church at Fort Prins Hendrik, now the street is called Benteng Miring.
In the cemetery conservation project in 2024, only 10 graves were selected. It is hoped that there will be other Graveyards for the next year’s program so that important Graveyards will receive safe treatment and in the future can become a Garden of Memories, a Memorial Park.
The Peneleh European Cemetery could become a Memorial Park as a historical tourist attraction in the city of Surabaya. (nng)