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THOUSAND DOORS THE DUTCH TRAIN

Lawang Sewu in Indonesian means "Thousand Doors". Semarang residents call it that because the building has a door and a large window doors that resembles a very large number. This building was designed by Dutch architect JF C. Citroen of Firma Klinkhamer and B.J. Quendag in 1903 and was completed in 1907. This building was originally used for offices Spoorweg Nederlands-Indische Maatschappij or NIS, the Dutch railway company.

The front of this historic building decorated by the twin towers and gothic models are divided into two, extending rearward impressive solid, big and beautiful. Lawang Sewu architectural art deco style is characterized by a growing exclusively in the era of 1850-1940 in continental Europe.

The building overlooks the Wilhelmina Park is now better known as complex Tugu Muda. In front of Lawang Sewu first tram rails crossing the city of Semarang, majoring fur â € "Jomblang. Aerial photos taken in 1927 still shows this perangkutan track.

After Japan took over the Dutch in Indonesia in 1942, the basement of this building which was formerly a sewer in the "magic" into the dungeon at once sewer water. The house is also a silent witness to a fierce battle between the people of Indonesia to the Japanese army known as the Battle of Five Days in Semarang (October 14, 1945 - October 19, 1945). To commemorate the historic event, a few years later, the government built a stele in the courtyard Wilhelmina Park is now known as Monument Muida Ancient buildings and magnificent two-story after independence used as Indonesia Railway Bureau office (DKARI) or now PT Kereta Api Indonesia. Moreover once used as the Office of National Infrastructures Regional Military Command (Kodam IV / Diponegoro) and Regional Office (Regional Office) Department of Transportation Central Java.

Given Lawang Sewu has important historical value, then the Government of Semarang with SK Wali Kota 650/50/1992, enter Lawang Sewu as one of the 102 ancient or historic buildings in the city of Semarang that should be protected.

Currently Lawang Sewu is under renovation to repair parts of buildings that have been damaged due with age.