Penelehhistory.com: Surabaya (27/5/24) – There is something interesting about Peneleh European Cemetery. Its existence is monumental. Peneleh Cemetery can be a marker of the presence of the European community in the Dutch East Indies in the second half of the 19th century.
Important Figures in Peneleh Cemetery
Many important people and officials who contributed to the Dutch East Indies before Indonesia was born in 1945 are buried there. Now, the Peneleh European Cemetery no longer accepts new burials. It has stopped and is inactive.
Conservation Efforts
Currently, the cemetery is under conservation efforts by a joint team from Surabaya (Begandring Soerabaia) and Amsterdam (TiMe Amsterdam). They are history and cultural heritage enthusiasts from Surabaya (Indonesia) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) in a project called “Peneleh as a Living Library”.
Monument of Historical Diplomacy
Peneleh Cemetery is part of the overall Peneleh area. The cemetery, which no longer serves new burials, has become an important monument in Surabaya that can be a platform for historical cooperation diplomacy between Indonesia and the Netherlands. History is the past, which should be used as a foundation for mutual cooperation to look towards the future of both nations.
Monumental Graves
Among the thousands of bodies resting there, two are considered monumental: the graves of Surabaya Resident Daniel Franscois Willem Pietermaat and Governor General Peter Merkus. In fact, Peter Merkus died before Peneleh Cemetery was opened. Merkus died at the Grahadi State Building in 1844, while Peneleh Cemetery was opened on December 1, 1847. There was a time gap between his death in 1844 and his burial at Peneleh after its opening in 1847.
There was a three-year gap. He died in 1844 and was buried after the inauguration of the cemetery in 1847. It turns out that for three years he was laid to rest near the church at Fort Prins Hendrik, now known as Benteng Miring Street.
Burial Location of Peter Merkus
The burial of Peter Merkus is located on the northwest side of the cemetery area. Near the wall adjacent to Jalan Makam Peneleh, formerly known as Kerkhoff. On this cemetery wall, there is an old iron-barred entrance gate that serves as an access point to the cemetery. Behind this wall and fence lies the grave of Governor General Peter Merkus. His grave is enclosed by a black Gothic-style fence.
Peneleh as a Living Museum Project
The grave of Governor General Peter Merkus is also part of the Peneleh as a Living Museum project. Peter was a central official who died in Surabaya while on duty and was subsequently buried in Surabaya. He received a special burial location, near the road and entrance.
Grave of Resident Pietermaat
Different from Pietermaat, the Resident of Surabaya who died in 1848. As an important official, he was buried in a strategic location, in the middle of the 5-hectare cemetery area. His grave is precisely at the cemetery’s core and located in the middle of the corridor road.
Conservation 2024
In the 2024 cemetery conservation project, only 10 graves were selected. It is hoped that other graves will be included in the following year’s program so that important graves will be secured and eventually become a Memorial Park.
Memorial Park
Peneleh European Cemetery could become a Memorial Park as a historical tourism object in Surabaya.
