Vredeburg museums, monuments Netherlands colonialism in Java

Museum Vredeburg formerly a Dutch defense headquarters, built in 1760 by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I, at the request of the Netherlands. In 1788, restored and named Rustenberg, which means fortress resting. In 1867,the castle was renovated again because of the earthquake, and the name was changed to Vredeburg, which means fortress of peace.

Vredeburg Museum is located in front of Gedung Agung, and the palace of Yogyakarta Sultanate. Has a collection of ancient buildings (moat, around the walls, bridges, gates, sheds), a collection of household, weapons, manuscripts, clothing, kitchen utensils, photographs, paintings, dioramas (some 55 pieces in 4 space) which tells the history of the struggle of Indonesia , and others. Other facilities that can be used by visitors and the wider community such as, libraries, guest house, meeting and seminar rooms, exhibition halls (indoor and out door), and other public facilities.

Vredeburg standing closely associated with the birth of Yogyakarta Sultanate. Because of the very rapid growth of the palace, the Dutch sense of worries began to emerge. Dutch parties proposed to the Sultan for permission to build a fort near the palace, on the pretext that the Netherlands can maintain the security of the palace and its surroundings. In fact, the real purpose of the Netherlands is to facilitate the control of all the developments taking place in the palace.

Location fortress overlooking the main road to the palace, and within a cannon shot, an indication that, in fact function as a fortress strategy, intimidation, assault, and blockade. So it can be said that, the establishment of the fort Vredeburg intended to guard if at any time the Sultan "looking away", against the Netherlands.

The existence of the hidden power behind the political contract in Giyanti Agreement, February 13, 1755, which successfully completed the feud between Susuhunan Pakubuwono III with Pangeran Mangkubumi (Sultan Hamengku Buwono I), and other agreements with the Netherlands, seemed to be a force a difficult be resisted by indigenous leaders during the Dutch colonial, including the Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I. Therefore, the application for a permit to build a fort was granted.