Merdeka Square, Jakarta
| Merdeka Square | |
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| Public square | |
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Indonesian: Medan Merdeka Lapangan Merdeka |
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| Former name(s): Lapangan Ikada Koningsplein |
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 A view of Merdeka Square from Gambir Station. with National Monument standing in the middle of the Square. |
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| Features: | National Monument, fountain, statues |
| Construction: | 1961–1976 |
| Opening date: | 1976 |
| Amenities: | parking |
| Area: | 1 square kilometre (100 ha) |
| Surface: | grass |
| Dedicated to: | Indonesia independence |
| Location: | Jakarta, Indonesia |
 Merdeka Square
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| Coordinates: 6°10′31″S 106°49′38″E / 6.17528°S 106.82722°ECoordinates: 6°10′31″S 106°49′38″E / 6.17528°S 106.82722°E | |
Merdeka Square (Indonesian: Medan Merdeka or Lapangan Merdeka) is a large square located in the center of Jakarta, Indonesia. Measuring one square kilometer in area, if the surrounding fields within the Merdeka Square are included, it is considered one of the largest squares in the world. At 75 hectares, it is over five times the size of Tiananmen Square, and 12 times the size of Place de la Concorde.
At its center stands the National Monument, often called Monas (Monumen Nasional). The paved plaza surrounds the monument often host national events such as military and float parades, as well as civic demonstrations. Surrounding the Monument is now a park with a musical fountain in eastern side, and a deer enclosure where deer roam among the shady trees in the southeast corner. The square is a popular destination for Jakartans for sports and recreation especially on weekends.
It is surrounded by important government buildings such as the Merdeka Palace, the National Museum of Indonesia, the Supreme Court and various governmental ministries. During the colonial Dutch East Indies era the square was called Koningsplein (King's square).Merdeka is the Indonesian word for freedom or independence.
In the late 18th century when the Dutch East Indies government moved their center of administration about 4 kilometres southward, from coastal old Batavia (now Kota) to Weltevreden (now Central Jakarta), they built several important buildings including the square. Formerly, it was a large open field for herding kerbau (water buffalo), and therefore called Buffelsveld. There were two main squares in Weltevreden: Buffelsveld and Paradeplaats (Parade ground, later renamed Waterlooplein, now Lapangan Banteng). The squares began to take shape during Daendels' rule in the early 19th century; Waterlooplein became the main parade and ceremonial square, while the Buffelsveld ("buffalo field") was renamed Champ de Mars after the field in Paris due to French influence and used as a military exercise field.
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