National Museum Guidebook

The Indonesian Heritage Society and the Museum Nasional have published three museum guides:

The Museum Nasional Guidebook
Museum Encounters: Jakarta – Indonesian Heritage Society, 2008
Museum Encounters: Java and Bali – Indonesian Heritage Society, 2010

The Museum Nasional Guidebook is organized by color-coded sections beginning with a map showing the layout of the Museum. Starting in Ethnography, the guide takes the reader through a walking tour of 16 sub-areas of the Museum. Each section description begins with an overview of the collection within it and goes on to describe in detail selected artifacts that best illustrate the section’s main themes. The guidebook explains the significance of each piece, how it was used in everyday life, or how it played a part in religious or other ceremonies.

The books are designed so that visitors can easily carry them as they enjoy the Museums.

(Paperback; 14cm by 21cm; 100 pages). Available in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

Please note: On 16 September 2023, a fire damaged a wing of Museum Nasional Indonesia, affecting several galleries. The museum underwent restoration and reopened on 15 October 2024 with a renovated layout. Some sections of the museum may differ from what is described in this guidebook. Visitors are encouraged to check with the museum or the Indonesian Heritage Society for the most current information.

The Indonesian Heritage Society, with roots dating to 1970 and formally established as a Yayasan in 1995, is a multinational organization of volunteers who support and assist Museum Nasional and other museums in Jakarta and promote public appreciation for Indonesia’s cultural heritage. Among the group’s many activities, members help catalogue museum artifacts, translate archival records, give museum tours in English, French, Japanese, and Korean (with additional languages available on request), teach English and other languages to museum staff, present cultural programs at local schools, organize an evening lecture series (now available in morning and online formats as well), hold study groups on selected topics, and sponsor study tours to various regions of Indonesia. Volunteers also run an extensive reference library located in Sentral Senayan 1 that is open to members of the Heritage Society.

The Museum Nasional Guidebook is available at the Indonesian Heritage Society library, on the 17th floor, Sentral Senayan 1 (adjacent to Plaza Senayan), Jl. Asia Afrika 8, Jakarta Pusat 10270. Library hours are Monday–Wednesday and Friday, 09:30–15:30, and the third Thursday of the month, 09:30–15:30. As hours may be subject to change, it is best to call or message in advance.

The book can also be purchased at Museum Nasional, Jl. Merdeka Barat 12, Jakarta Pusat — though visitors are advised to confirm availability directly with the IHS, as the museum has undergone significant renovation following the 2023 fire. The book is also available at various expat community bazaars and Heritage Society events.