Soerabaja

Soerabaja
consigliere ivan · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Soerabaja
Other name	Surabaya
Settlement type	City
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Indonesia
Subdivision type1	Province
Subdivision name1	East Java
Established title	Founded
Established date	1743
Area total km2	350.5
Population total	2830000
Population as of	2020
Timezone	WIB

Soerabaja Soerabaja is a historic urban center on the northeastern coast of Java, in East Java, Indonesia. The city has long served as a major port linking regional trade routes involving VOC, Dutch East Indies, British Empire, Empire of Japan, and modern ASEAN networks. Its development intersects events such as the Java War (1825–1830), the Indonesian National Revolution, and maritime commerce tied to the Strait of Madura and the Indian Ocean.

Etymology and spelling

The spelling "Soerabaja" reflects Dutch-era orthography used during the Dutch East Indies period and appears in documents alongside names like Batavia, Semarang, Makassar, Padang, and Banda Neira. Colonial records from officials in the VOC and administrators of the Netherlands standardize "Soerabaja" much as contemporaneous sources refer to Dejima, Malacca, Penang, and Singapore. Post-independence spelling reforms influenced usage toward forms used in publications by institutions like Pusat Bahasa, Universitas Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, and Indonesian ministries, paralleling shifts seen in other cities such as Yogyakarta, Medan, Palembang, and Surakarta.

History

Soerabaja features in the maritime history of Southeast Asia alongside ports like Melaka, Aden, Cochin, Macau, and Nagasaki. Early interactions involved local principalities and trading networks connecting Majapahit, Mataram Sultanate, Sunan Gunung Jati, and coastal traders from China, India, Arabia, and Spain. European engagement intensified after visits by VOC ships and later EIC contacts during the Napoleonic Wars and the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824. The city was contested during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies and saw urban and military action during the Battle of Surabaya in 1945, which is memorialized alongside events such as the Battle of Jakarta and the Indonesian National Revolution. Postcolonial urbanization tracked patterns similar to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Geography and climate

Located on Java's northeastern seaboard near the Madura Strait and bordering the Bengawan Solo maritime approaches, Soerabaja's setting is comparable to other littoral cities like Haiphong, Chittagong, Port Klang, and Tanjung Priok. The climate is tropical monsoon, akin to Jakarta, Surakarta, Semarang, and Medan, with seasonal rainfall linked to the Monsoon, regional circulation influenced by the Indian Ocean Dipole and phenomena studied by institutions such as BMKG, NOAA, NASA, and IPCC.

Demographics and society

The city's population has long been diverse, with communities tracing origins to Javanese, Madurese, Chinese Indonesians, Arab Indonesians, Indian Indonesians, and immigrants from Europe during colonial periods such as Netherlands and United Kingdom. Religious life includes practitioners of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism and institutions like Al-Akbar Mosque, churches influenced by architects from trends seen in Gothic Revival and Indo-Islamic styles. Social dynamics have been studied by scholars associated with Universitas Airlangga, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Cornell University, and Leiden University.

Economy and infrastructure

Soerabaja's economy centers on maritime trade, manufacturing, and services, connecting to regional hubs such as Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok, Belawan, Pelabuhan Ratu, and Cirebon. Historic industries involved shipbuilding in yards linked to techniques from Blohm+Voss, Yokosuka traditions and modern repair facilities coordinated with companies like Pertamina, Garuda Indonesia, PT PAL Indonesia, and global firms such as Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO, and Hapag-Lloyd. Infrastructure projects have attracted investment from entities including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, ASEAN Secretariat, and multinational consortia associated with the Belt and Road Initiative.

Culture and landmarks

Cultural life in Soerabaja integrates cuisines and arts comparable to Gado-gado, Rendang, Satay, and street foods celebrated in cities like Medan and Yogyakarta. Landmarks include colonial-era architecture similar to examples in Batavia Old Town, mosques such as Masjid Al-Akbar Surabaya and marketplaces reminiscent of Pasar Gede, theaters with programming like Wayang Kulit and performances associated with troupes akin to Bambang Suprianto ensembles. Museums, galleries, and cultural centers collaborate with institutions like Museum Nasional, Rijksmuseum, British Museum, and Smithsonian Institution for exhibitions and conservation.

Transportation and urban development

Urban connectivity relies on ports comparable to Tanjung Priok, rail links akin to Kereta Api Indonesia services found between Jakarta Kota and provincial nodes, and an airport with routes like those operated by Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, AirAsia, and Batik Air. Planning and redevelopment draw on models used in Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo, with participation from urban research centers at MIT, TU Delft, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Universitas Airlangga. Recent initiatives address flood control, mangrove restoration, and smart-city systems promoted by organizations including the United Nations, ICLEI, and World Wide Fund for Nature.

Category:Cities in East Java