Semarang

The history of Semarang goes back to the 9th century, when it was known as Bergota. At the end of the 15th century, the Demak Sultanate appointed an Islamic scholar named Ki Ageng Pandan Arang to build an Islamic school in this fishing village. On 2 May 1547, Sultan Hadiwijaya of Pajang declared Pandan Arang as the first bupati (mayor) of Semarang, thus creating Semarang administratively and politically. In 1678, Sunan Amangkurat II promised to give control of Semarang to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a part of a debt payment. In 1682, the Semarang state was founded by the Dutch colonial power. On 5 October 1705 after years of occupations, Semarang officially became a VOC city when Susuhunan Pakubuwono I made a deal to give extensive trade rights to the VOC in exchange of wiping out Mataram's debt. …

Semarang is located on the northern coast of Java. The municipality lies between 6°50′ and 7°10′ south latitude and 109°35′ and 110°50′ east longitude. It is bounded by Kendal Regency to the west, Demak Regency to the east, Semarang Regency to the south, and the Java Sea to the north. Its coastline is 13.6 km long and its area is 373.78 km². The municipality's elevation ranges from 0.75 to 348 metres above sea level. Lowland areas in Semarang City are very narrow. The lowland area in western Semarang only has a width of 4 km (2.5 miles) from the coastline, while in the eastern Semarang, the low-lying area has a width of 11 km (6.8 miles) from the coastline. This lowland area is a flood plain from the large rivers that flow in Semarang City, such as Kali Garang (West Flood Canal), Pengkol River, and Bringin River. …

There are 593 elementary schools, 220 junior high schools, 106 senior high schools, and 88 vocational high schools, both public and private in Semarang. There are 20 universities in Semarang, 12 of them private and 8 public. The most renowned universities of Semarang are Diponegoro University and Soegijapranata University. Diponegoro University (UNDIP): It is one of national or state-owned universities in Semarang, founded in 1957. The university has 11 faculties and 2 schools: Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Fishery and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Animal Agriculture, Faculty of Psychology, Vocational School, and Postgraduate School. …

In 1939, according to Moehkardi citing Encyclopaedia Britannica, exports from Port of Semarang reached 38,522,000 gulden (accounting for approximately 5% of total exports from the Dutch East Indies) while the imports through the port reached 48,774,000 gulden, representing about 10% of the total imports of the colony. In 2025, Semarang's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) at current prices was 288.05 trillion rupiah, compared with 267.62 trillion rupiah in 2024 and 204.87 trillion rupiah in 2021. At constant 2010 prices, real GRDP growth was 6.49% in 2025, following positive growth in each year from 2021 to 2025. Gross fixed capital formation accounted for 60.92% of GRDP and household final consumption for 40.88%; Semarang contributed 14.83% of the economy of Central Java in 2025. …

Semarang old town (Kota Lama), which is sometimes referred to by locals as "Little Netherlands." It was established in the 18th century when Indonesia was a Dutch colony. There are more than 50 well-maintained colonial buildings in Kota Lama, displaying 18th, 19th, and 20th century European-influenced architecture. China Town: Chinatown in Semarang has a night market known as 'Pasar Semawis', which is known for its cuisine and Chinese new year celebration. Tugu Muda (Youth Monument) is a monument built to commemorate the services of the heroes who have fallen in the Battle of Five Days in Semarang. The height of Tugu Muda is 53 meters. Tugu Muda is located in front of Lawang Sewu at Pemuda street. …

Semarang is on the Indonesian National Route 1 road, which connects it to Merak and Ketapang (Banyuwangi). Indonesian National Route 14 toward Bawen starts here. Semarang has a toll road, the Semarang Toll Road. The city is connected to Solo by Semarang–Solo Toll Road. Semarang's largest bus terminals are Mangkang and Terboyo. The primary means of public transportation is by minibus, called "bis". Ojek (motorcycle taxis), Angkot (share-taxi) micro-buses, taxi-cabs plays vital role in public transportation of the city. Go-Jek and Grab have online taxi and Ojek services. Semarang is served by bus rapid transit called Trans Semarang, which operates in six routes. Perum DAMRI also serves in six designated routes in the city. Semarang was connected to Surakarta (Solo) by a rail line in 1870. At present there are two large train stations in Semarang: Semarang Poncol and Semarang Tawang. …