Istana Merdeka The Indonesian White House

Istana Merdeka is the official place of residence and office for the President of Indonesia, one complex with the National Palace and the Bina Graha.

Its location overlooking the Park National Monument (Monas)Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jakarta. The palace was built with an area of ​​about 2,400 m² during the reign of Governor-General JW van Lansberge of 1873 in the same plot with  Rijswijk Palace that start crowded.

Originally Istana Merdeka  named the Palace of Gambier, and the architect is Drossaers .This palace was built at the beginning the reign of Republic of Indonesia (RI) .This palace could be a witness to the history of the signing of the recognition of the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia(RIS) by the Dutch Government on December 27, 1949. At that time Indonesia was represented by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, while the kingdom of the Netherlands is represented A.H.J Lovink, high representative of the Dutch crown in Indonesia.

In a touching ceremony the Dutch flag was lowered and the flag of Indonesia raised to the sky blue. Hundreds of thousands of people filled the field of land and building ladders froze and shed a tear when the flag is raised.

However, when the Red and White rose up and flying, they burst into joy and cries of: Freedom! Freedom! (Freedom is merdeka in Indonesian language) Since then the palace called the Istana Merdeka .