South Tangerang, FAH Online – The long history of the Hajj journeys undertaken by people from the Indonesian archipelago during the colonial period represents an important part of Indonesia’s social and cultural history. This historical legacy was also explored by lecturers and students of the Library Science Study Program, Faculty of Adab and Humanities (FAH), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, through a visit to Onrust Island in the Thousand Islands. The visit was held to attend the opening of the exhibition “From Batavia to Baitullah: Memories of the Hajj in the Past,” organized by the Jakarta Maritime Museum on Thursday (August 20, 2026).

FAH UIN Jakarta received an invitation from the Jakarta Maritime Museum as part of the implementation of the cooperation agreement between the Faculty of Adab and Humanities (FAH), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, and the Jakarta Maritime Museum. FAH UIN Jakarta sent a delegation consisting of Dr. Lolytasari, S.Ag., M.Hum., M.Si.; Lily Sudria Wenny, S.IP., M.Hum.; and Saniyah Tussalamah Ramadhani, a student of the Library Science Study Program.

The presence of the FAH UIN Jakarta delegation marked a follow-up to the cooperation between the two institutions, as well as a form of support for the exhibition “From Batavia to Baitullah: Memories of the Hajj in the Past.” Through this activity, the FAH delegation had the opportunity to directly observe various archival collections, photographs, and artifacts documenting the Hajj journeys of people from the Indonesian archipelago during the colonial period. The visit also served as an opportunity to strengthen institutional relations and explore potential collaboration in archival management, historical preservation, and the utilization of cultural information resources.

The exhibition was initiated by the Jakarta Provincial Office of Culture in collaboration with several national and international partners, including the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI), the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia, the Department of Archaeology at the University of Indonesia, and FAH UIN Jakarta. The exhibition also involved an international partner from the Sultanate of Oman.

The series of activities began in the morning, with participants gathering at Sunda Kelapa Port at 6:30 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB). The participants then traveled to Onrust Island by speedboat. The exhibition opening ceremony was held from approximately 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., followed by a guided exhibition tour for invited guests from 11:20 to 11:50 a.m.

In addition to visiting the exhibition, the group explored the historical buildings and sites on Onrust Island. During the tour, the curator explained the history of Onrust Island as one of the health quarantine sites for prospective Hajj pilgrims during the colonial era. The quarantine facility officially operated from 1911 to 1933, consisting of 35 barracks with a capacity of approximately 3,500 pilgrims, before the quarantine function was eventually relocated to Tanjung Priok.

Participants also learned about the remains of a colonial artesian well system capable of bringing water to the surface from a depth of approximately 200–300 meters without the use of pumps. In addition, the curator explained the deterioration of the Onrust Island complex caused by the looting of building materials in 1968, which resulted in most of the historical structures in the area surviving only as ruins and foundations.

The exhibition “From Batavia to Baitullah: Memories of the Hajj in the Past” is open to the public from August 21, 2026, to January 1, 2027. The exhibition presents archival materials, photographs, and artifacts documenting the journeys of people from the Dutch East Indies to the Holy Land.

This visit is expected to broaden the knowledge and understanding of the academic community at FAH UIN Jakarta, particularly within the Library Science Study Program, regarding archives and historical memory as sources of cultural information. Furthermore, the activity forms part of efforts to strengthen networks and cross-institutional research collaboration in preserving the historical heritage of the Hajj journeys of the Indonesian people.

Writers: Kasih Nur / Deny Saputra

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