Government Activities in Kota Lama Area

"As of 20 February 1748, the status of the North-East Coast area was elevated from the centre of military command into a provincial government."

"Societeit Amicitia" (left) and "Residentie Kantoor" or Gedung Papak (cut in half on the right). Source: Museum Volkenkunde, 1874-1875.

The presence of the City Fort became more significant when Raad van Indie (Council of the Indies) approved the elevation of Semarang as a provincial capital of Java's northeast coast. In 1746, Semarang was chosen as a headquarters for the commandeur, or the chief of the North-East Coastal area of Java. This area spanned from the Losari River bordering the Sultanate of Cirebon in the west to the Surabaya and the Oosthoek (east end) area in the east.

As of 20 February 1748, the status of the North-East Coast area was elevated from the centre of military command into a provincial government. The province's territories included: Tegal, Pekalonganm Semarang, Jepara, Rembang, Gresik, Surabaya, and Madura. The Semarang government served an important role as a liaison between the VOC and Mataram rulers.

Based on the plan in the map Plan van de Stad Semarang met de Profillen der Fortificatien dated 1787, Kumpeni's building with government administration functions is clustered on the west side of the City Fort. Among them are:

• Het gouvernement: the head office of the Governor of the North-East Coast of Java province.

• Secretarif Camptoir: the secretary's office, where the governor's secretary performed duties, such as recording minutes of meetings, drafting correspondence, and compiling routine reports.

• Soldeij Camptoir: the payroll office for soldiers.

• Negotie Camptoir: trading office, a building where all trading activities on a provincial scale were conducted.

• Hoofd Camptoir: a central office that had the function of organising other government offices such as the secretary's office, payroll, and trade. The head of this office had the rank of Director whose position is one level lower than governor in the provincial government.

The building was used as the residence of the Governor of the North-East Coast of Java province before moving to Gedeung de Vrijheid on the west side of the Kali Semarang (Semarang River). After the Province of the North East Coast of Java was disestablished, the office was used as the government office of the caresidenan of Semarang and the trading company Nederlandsch Handel-Maatschappij. In 1854, the building burned down and Societeit Amicitia was built on the site. The office was moved to the Papak Building (Gedung Papak), which was completed in 1857. The Societeit Amicitia building was demolished in 1907 and the Nederlandsch Handel-Maatschappij (NHM) office was built on the site. Meanwhile, the Papak Building burned down in 1954.