Jakarta Reopens City Hall to Public With New Educational Tour

JAKARTA – Jakartaweekly.com. Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno officially launched Namu Balai Kota, or City Hall Experience, on Saturday, October 17, 2026, opening the provincial government headquarters to residents through educational tours, community activities and public services.

The programme aims to help residents understand Jakarta’s history and how its administration operates. Visitors can explore selected government facilities, learn about urban management and participate in activities designed for families, students and local communities.

City Hall will open to the public every other Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can check schedules and make reservations through the JAKI application or the Jakarta Smart City website.

An Idea That Echoes the Ahok Era

The initiative recalls a similar effort under former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularly known as Ahok. In September 2015, his administration officially opened City Hall as a public tourism destination, allowing residents to explore parts of the government complex on weekends.

The earlier programme sought to make the governor’s office more accessible while introducing visitors to the building’s history and Jakarta Smart City initiatives. It also offered residents a place to gather, learn and participate in community activities. <Cite refs={[“turn955785search3″,”turn955785search8”]} />

More than a decade later, Namu Balai Kota brings a comparable approach to public engagement, with a broader programme of educational activities and public-service facilities.

“City Hall is not just our hall; it belongs to the people,” Rano said at the launch. “We want to open the doors so Jakarta residents can see and learn more about what the government has been doing.”

Rano added that the programme reflects the welcoming character of Betawi culture. He hopes the complex will serve not only as an administrative centre but also as a shared space for learning, interaction and creativity.

The initiative also targets younger visitors. Through tours of leadership offices and the Jakarta Smart City monitoring centre, children can gain a closer look at how the capital is managed and learn about professions involved in urban development.

“I want children who visit to go home with big dreams,” Rano said, mentioning careers such as urban planning, technology, architecture and public service.

Tours, Community Activities and Public Services

Marulina Dewi, head of Jakarta’s Communication, Informatics and Statistics Agency, said the programme was developed by Governor Pramono Anung and Rano to make City Hall more accessible as a public space, including on weekends.

A trial session on October 3 attracted around 300 registered visitors, according to Dewi. Approximately 500 people attended the official launch.

The programme was developed in collaboration with government agencies, the Indonesian Tour Guides Association and Abang None Jakarta, the capital’s youth ambassador programme.

Activities include guided City Hall tours, Kids on Air at Jakarta News Studio, film screenings through Jakarta Cinema Experience, community activities at Community Playground and a bazaar featuring micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Visitors can also access a range of services at a mini public-service centre in the City Hall courtyard. These include passport services from Tanjung Priok Immigration Office, mobile driving licence services from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, mobile vehicle-tax services and a mobile library.

Other facilities provide information on business permits, financial services and land and building tax payments. Visitors can also purchase food products from state-owned regional companies Dharma Jaya and Food Station Tjipinang Jaya.

Additional activities include waste-sorting education, fire-prevention demonstrations, free health checks and traditional games such as congklak, dampu and bekel.

Families Explore the Government Complex

Visitors began arriving in the morning to take part in the programme. Children tried presenting at the news studio, while other guests joined historical tours, watched films and explored community activities.

Rina, 38, who visited with her child, said the experience offered a different way for children to learn outside school.

“My child was very happy to enter and see the Jakarta governor’s office directly,” she said. “I hope this programme can be held regularly because it is good for children’s education.”

Following the launch ceremony, Rano and provincial officials also joined a City Hall tour, visiting the Pendopo and several historically significant areas within the government complex.