The short answer
Museum of the Asian-African Conference (Gedung Merdeka): what visitors should know first
Yes, if you like modern history or architecture. Allow about an hour, check the museum's own site for hours, and combine it with a walk along Jalan Asia-Afrika.
History and context
The story behind Museum of the Asian-African Conference (Gedung Merdeka)
Wikipedia says the first building on the site was built in 1895 for the Sociëteit Concordia. The present Art Deco building was designed in 1926 by Van Galen and C.P. Wolff Schoemaker, and Albert Aalbers designed a Streamline Moderne extension in 1940.
It hosted the Asian-African Conference in 1955, was renamed Gedung Merdeka, and was inaugurated as a museum by President Soeharto in 1980.
Useful facts
Museum of the Asian-African Conference (Gedung Merdeka) facts at a glance
- Location
- Jalan Asia-Afrika, Bandung
- Experience type
- History museum in a heritage building
- Known for
- Photographs and records of the 1955 conference
- Built
- Present building designed 1926; extension 1940
- Architects
- Van Galen, C.P. Wolff Schoemaker; Albert Aalbers
- Time or schedule
- Check the museum's own site
Why it matters
Why Museum of the Asian-African Conference (Gedung Merdeka) is worth your time
For Indian visitors this is one of the more resonant museums in Bandung. India's prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was among the guests at the 1955 conference, according to Wikipedia's account of the nearby Savoy Homann Hotel, which housed VVIP guests, and the meeting shaped the idea of non-alignment that India helped lead.
The building also tells an architectural story. The first structure on the site was a colonial social club, replaced in the 1920s by the present Art Deco building, with a Streamline Moderne extension in 1940. Seeing it ties together the city's Dutch-era style and its place in post-colonial history.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
1955 conference
Photographs and records from the first Asian-African Conference.
- 02
Art Deco facade
A Wolff Schoemaker design from the 1920s.
- 03
Street setting
Jalan Asia-Afrika has other period buildings within a short walk.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Begin outside, where the building's Art Deco shape is easy to see, then enter the museum and follow the displays of photographs and records from the 1955 conference. Wikipedia says the museum displays collections and photographs from the conference and was inaugurated in 1980.
Take your time with the images of delegates arriving, since the conference brought together leaders from Asia and Africa and became a landmark in the history of the Non-Aligned Movement. Ask staff if guides or English notes are available.
After the visit, walk along Jalan Asia-Afrika to the Savoy Homann Hotel and the Grand Mosque square. The road is lined with period buildings, and the walk is flat but can be hot, so go in the morning.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Check hours on the museum's site
- Visit in the morning
- Ask about English notes
- Combine with Jalan Asia-Afrika
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Jalan Asia-Afrika, central Bandung
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Best time
- Morning
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Level interior and short distances inside. Seating is available in places; ask staff about ramps and lifts, as we could not verify the access details.
- Tickets and access
- Opening hours and ticket prices are set by the museum and change; Wikipedia lists the museum's website, asiafricamuseum.org. Check it before you go.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Museum of the Asian-African Conference (Gedung Merdeka)
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Level interior and short distances inside. Seating is available in places; ask staff about ramps and lifts, as we could not verify the access details.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Who designed the building?
Wikipedia credits Van Galen and C.P. Wolff Schoemaker for the 1926 building and Albert Aalbers for the 1940 extension.
What happened here in 1955?
The first Asian-African Conference was held in the building, which was renamed Gedung Merdeka.
Is there a ticket?
Check the museum's own site for current rules.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
