Indonesia’s VP Gibran Rakabuming Raka Visits Renovated Van den Bosch Fort in Ngawi
Ngawi, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s VP Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited Van den Bosch Fort, also known as Pendem Fort, in Ngawi District, East Java, on Sunday to inspect the results of the historic site’s recent renovations. Acting Governor of East Java, Adhy Karyono, shared that the Vice President took the opportunity to inquire about the fort’s public opening schedule and ticket pricing, indicating strong interest in the fort’s role as a cultural attraction.
During his visit, Vice President Gibran engaged warmly with visitors, distributing milk and gift bags containing notebooks, crayons, lunch boxes, and tumblers to elementary school students. He also handed out t-shirts and posed for photos with visitors, making the experience memorable for those present.
Accompanied by Acting Head of Ngawi District, Tiat S. Suwardi, the Vice President’s tour underscored the government’s commitment to revitalizing the site, a national strategic project initiated by the administration of former President Joko Widodo. With a budget of Rp113.7 billion (approximately US$7.2 million), the renovation aims to transform Van den Bosch Fort into a major tourism destination for both domestic and international visitors.
Originally a base for the Indonesian Army (TNI), the fort is now accessible to the public, with a modest entry fee of Rp10,000 (US$0.63). The transfer of management rights from TNI to the Ngawi district government is still in progress, paving the way for further development of the fort as a cultural heritage and tourism site.
