Ambon, Maluku

File:Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png

Ambon (Template:IPA; formerly Template:Langx) is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of Maluku. This city is also known as Template:Lang, which means "beautiful" or "pretty" Ambon in the Ambonese language. It covers a land area of Template:Convert, and had a population of 331,254 at the 2010 Census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011">Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.</ref> and 347,288 at the 2020 Census;<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.</ref> the official estimate as of mid 2024 was 357,289.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2025">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kota Ambon Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8171)</ref> The city is divided into five administrative districts (Template:Lang) – namely Nusaniwe, Sirimau, Teluk Ambon (Ambon Bay), Baguala (officially Teluk Ambon Baguala) and Leitimur Selatan (South Leitimur). Known as Indonesia's music city,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ambon became the first city in Southeast Asia to be recognised as the UNESCO City of Music in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The city is populated by a mix of ethnic Alifuru (original Moluccans), Javanese, Balinese, Butonese, Bugis, Makassar, Papuan, Minahasa, Minang, Flobamora (Flores, Sumba, Alor and Timor ethnics) and those of foreign descent (Chinese, Arabian-Ambonese, Spanish-Ambonese, German-Ambonese, Portuguese-Ambonese and Dutch-Ambonese). Between 1999 and 2002, there was social unrest motivated by racial intolerance.

History

Colonial era

File:Amboina. 17th century print, most likely English..jpg

Amboina in the 17th century under Portugal.

Ambon was colonized by Portugal in 1526 and originally named Nossa Senhora de Anunciada, founded by Portuguese-Moluccan Governor Sancho de Vasconcelos. The Portuguese were driven out by the Dutch in 1605. Except for brief periods of British rule, the island remained under Dutch control until Indonesia's independence in 1945.

File:Coat of Arms of Ambon (1930).svg

Coat of arms of Ambon during colonial era, granted in 1930. The motto (in Dutch): Template:Sqc ("Loyalty through the ages")

During the Dutch period, Ambon was the seat of the Dutch resident and military commander of the Maluku Islands. The town was protected by Fort Victoria, and the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica characterized it as "a clean little town with wide streets, well planted".<ref>Template:Cite EB1911</ref> The population was divided into two classes, orang burger (citizens) and orang negri (villagers), the former being a class of native origin enjoying certain privileges conferred on their ancestors by the old Dutch East India Company. There were also, besides the Dutch, some Arabs, Chinese and a few Portuguese settlers. Ambon was a center of Christian missionary activity, and Ambon and the surrounding islands have many Christians as well as the Muslims that predominate in most of Indonesia.

On 22 December 1902, the Apostolic Prefecture of Dutch New Guinea was established in the city, later to be promoted as the Diocese of Amboina.

File:Ambon refugees, 1999.jpg

Indonesian military forces evacuate refugees from Ambon.

Ambon Island was the site of a major Dutch naval base and was of strategic importance during WW2. In 1941, Dutch forces with the assistance of Australian forces reinforced Ambon in anticipation of a Japanese attack.Template:Sfn Japanese forces attacked Ambon as part of their attack on the Dutch East Indies. Despite formidable defenses, Ambon fell when its defenders surrendered after four days of fighting on 3 February 1942.Template:Sfn Following the battle, Japanese forces committed numerous acts of atrocities, including the execution of over 300 Dutch and Australian POWs at Laha airfield.Template:Sfn

Conflicts since independence

In 1950 Ambon was the center of an uprising against Indonesian rule, caused by the self-proclaimed Republic of the South Moluccas. Indonesian troops invaded the city during the Invasion of Ambon and reasserted control in just a few months. Many important buildings such as the Victoria Fort (APRMS main base) were heavily damaged during the confrontation.

In April and May 1958 during the Permesta rebellion in North Sulawesi, the USA supported and supplied the rebels. Pilots from a Taiwan-based CIA front organisation, Civil Air Transport, flying CIA B-26 Invader aircraft, repeatedly bombed and machine-gunned targets in and around Ambon. On 27 April a CIA raid set fire to a military command post, a fuel dump and a Royal Dutch Shell complex.Template:Sfn The attack on Shell was deliberate: the CIA had orders to hit foreign commercial interests in order to drive foreign trade away from Indonesia and undermine its economy.Template:Sfn The next day, the same CIA pilot bombed Shell interests at Balikpapan in East Kalimantan on Borneo, which persuaded Shell to suspend tanker services from there.<ref>Template:Cite hansard Template:Webarchive</ref>

On 28 April a CIA air raid damaged an Indonesian Army barracks next to a marketplace.Template:Sfn On 30 April a CIA air raid hit the airstrip.Template:Sfn On 7 May a CIA air raid attacked Ambon airstrip, seriously damaging a Douglas C-47 Skytrain and an Indonesian Air Force North American P-51 Mustang and setting fire to a number of fuel drums.Template:Sfn On 8 May a CIA B-26 tried to bomb an Indonesian Navy gunboat in Ambon harbour.Template:Sfn Its bomb missed but it then machine-gunned the boat, wounding two crew.Template:Sfn The Indonesian National Armed Forces reinforced Ambon City's anti-aircraft defences with a number of Template:Cvt machine guns.Template:Sfn On 9 May a CIA B-26 attacked the city again.Template:Sfn The machine-gunners returned fire and an Indonesian Air Force P-51 Mustang chased the B-26, but it escaped.Template:Sfn

On 15 May a CIA B-26 attacked a small ship, the Naiko, in Ambon Bay.Template:Sfn The Naiko was a merchant ship that the Indonesian Government had pressed into military service, and she was bringing a company of Ambonese troops home from East Java.Template:Sfn A CIA bomb hit the NaikoTemplate:'s engine room, killing one crew member and 16 infantrymenTemplate:Sfn and setting the ship on fire.Template:Sfn The B-26 then attacked Ambon city, aiming for the barracks. Its first bomb missed and exploded in a market-place next door.Template:Sfn The next landed in the barracks compound but bounced and exploded near an ice factory.Template:Sfn The B-26 in the May air raids was flown by a CAT pilot called Allen Pope.Template:Sfn On 18 May Pope attacked Ambon again. First he raided the airstrip again, destroying the C-47 and P-51 that he had damaged on 7 May.Template:Sfn Then he flew west of the city and tried to attack one of a pair of troop ships being escorted by the Indonesian Navy.Template:Sfn Indonesian forces shot down the B-26 but Pope and his Indonesian radio operator survived and were captured.Template:Sfn Pope's capture immediately exposed the level of CIA support for the Permesta rebellion. Embarrassed, the Eisenhower administration quickly ended CIA support for Permesta and withdrew its agents and remaining aircraft from the conflict.Template:Sfn

As part of the transmigration program in the 1980s, the Suharto government relocated many migrants, most of them Muslim, from densely overpopulated Java.Template:Citation needed

Between 1999 and 2002, Ambon was at the centre of sectarian conflict across the Maluku Islands.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> There was further religious violence in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography and climate

Topography

Most of the land area can be classified as hilly to steeply sloping, while 17% of the land area can be classified as more flat or shallow-sloped.

Climate

Ambon experiences a tropical rainforest climate (Af) according to Köppen Climate Classification as there is no real dry season. The driest month is November with total precipitation of Template:Cvt, while the wettest month is June with total precipitation of Template:Cvt. As it is located near the equator, the temperature throughout the year is constant. The hottest month is December, with an average temperature of Template:Cvt, while the coolest month is July, with an average temperature Template:Cvt.<ref name="DWD">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Weather box

Administrative districts

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Government office in Ambon.

The city is divided into five districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their 2010 Census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011"/> and 2020 Census populations,<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021"/> together with the official estimates as at mid 2024.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2025">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kota Ambon Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8171)</ref> The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages and subdistricts (kelurahan) in each district (totaling 20 urban kelurahan, 20 negari and 10 rural desa), and its post codes.

Kode Wilayah	Name of District (kecamatan)	Area in km2	Pop'n Census 2010	Pop'n Census 2020	Pop'n Estimate mid 2024	Admin centre	No. of villages	Post code
81.71.01	Nusaniwe	88.35	89,866	90,250	91,574	Amahusu	13 (a)	97114 - 97118
81.71.02	Sirimau	86.81	140,064	146,426	148,742	Karang Panjang	14 (b)	97121 - 97129
81.71.03	Teluk Ambon Baguala	40.11	53,472	57,591	61,271	Passo	7 (c)	97231 - 97233
81.71.04	Teluk Ambon (Ambon Bay)	93.68	38,451	43,363	45,495	Wayame	8 (d)	97233 - 97237
81.71.05	Leitimur Selatan (South Leitimur)	50.50	9,401	9,658	10,207	Leahari	8 (e)	97129 & 97237

Notes: (a) comprising 8 kelurahan and 5 negeri. (b) comprising 10 kelurahan, 3 negeri and one desa.
(c) comprising 1 kelurahan, 2 negeri and 4 desa. (d) comprising 1 kelurahan, 2 negeri and 5 desa. (e) all negeri.

Like other regions in the (Maluku Islands), areas in Ambon are still considered to have the status of states, led by kings and queens.

District	States
Nusaniwe	Urimessing, Benteng, Wainitu, Kudamati, Waihaong, Manggadua, Nusanive, Amahusu, Latuhalat, Seilale
Sirimau	Waihoka, Amantelu, Rijali, Karangpanjang, Batumeja, Batugajah, Ahusen, Honipopu, Uritetu, Pandankasturi, Galala, Hative, Batumerah, Soya
Teluk Ambon Baguala	Waiheru, Nania, Negrilama, Passo, Lateri, Latta, Halong
Teluk Ambon (Ambon Bay)	Laha, Tawiri, Greater Hative, Wayame, Rumatiga, Tihu, Poka, Hunuth
South Leitimor	Hatalai, Naku, Kilang, Ema, Hukurila, Hutumuri, Rutong, Leahari

Nusanive

Nusanive District consists of the western part of the Leitimur Peninsula. The eight urban kelurahan form part of the built-up area of Ambon city in the centre of the north shore of that peninsula, while the eight negeri (desa) consist of the more rural areas to the west and south of that core. Three of these negeri have the same names as kelurahan in the core.

Kode Wilayah	Name of kelurahan, negeri or desa	Area in km2	Pop'n Estimate mid 2023<ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Nusaniwe Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8171010)</ref>	Post code
81.71.01.2001	Neg. Latuhalat	13.00	9,799	97118
81.71.01.2002	Neg. Seilale	2.41	1,654	97118
81.71.01.2003	Neg. Nusanive	16.00	3,251	97117
81.71.01.2004	Neg. Amahusu	8.00	5,628	97117
81.71.01.2005	Neg. Urimessing	46.16	14,958	97113
81.71.01.1006	Kel. Nusanive	16.00	8,822	97117
81.71.01.1007	Kel. Wainitu	0.30	15,361	97115
81.71.01.1008	Kel. Benteng	0.87	8,253	97117
81.71.01.1009	Kel. Kudamati	0.67	8,596	97116
81.71.01.1010	Kel. Mangga Dua	8.00	3,323	97114
81.71.01.1011	Kel. Urimessing	0.27	4,754	97113
81.71.01.1012	Kel. Waihaong	0.15	4,764	97112
81.71.01.1013	Kel. Seilale	0.18	3,082	97111

Sirimau

Sirimau District consists of the north-central part of the Leitimur Peninsula, and thus equates roughly to the core of the Ambon city built-up area.

Kode Wilayah	Name of kelurahan, negeri or desa	Area in km2	Pop'n Estimate mid 2023<ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2024, Kecamatan Sirimau Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8171020)</ref>	Post code
81.71.01.2001	Neg. Hative Kecil	1.53	11,047	97128
81.71.02.2002	Desa Galala	0.12	1,401	97128
81.71.02.2003	Neg. Batu Merah	16.67	65,737	97128
81.71.02.2009	Neg. Soya	55.65	9,321	97129
81.71.02.1010	Ke1. Pandan Kasturi	4.00	6,965	97128
81.71.02.1011	Kel. Rijali	0.28	6,357	97123
81.71.02.1012	Kel. Amantelu	1.15	7,056	97122
81.71.02.1013	Kel. Karang Panjang	0.43	6,652	97121
81.71.02.1014	Kel. Waihoka	0.75	4,739	97129
81.71.02.1015	Kel. Batu Meja	0.85	9,306	97125
81.71.02.1016	Kel. Batu Gajah	0.45	6,370	97127
81.71.02.1017	Kel. Uritetu	0.35	4,940	97124
81.71.02.1018	Kel. Honipopu	0.34	4,522	97126
81.71.02.1019	Kel. Ahusen	0.24	3,583	97127

Teluk Ambon Baguala or simply Baguala

Teluk Ambon Baguala District (usually shortened to Baguala District) consists of the northeastern part of the Leitimur Peninsula, together with the isthmus connecting it to the main (Leihitu) portion of the island and the adjoining part of Leihitu.

Kode Wilayah	Name of kelurahan, negeri or desa	Area in km2	Pop'n Estimate mid 2023<ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2024, Kecamatan Teluk Ambon Baguala Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8171020)</ref>	Post code
81.71.03.2001	Neg. Passo	11.38	21,957	97232
81.71.03.2002	Neg. Halong	16.00	10,935	97231
81.71.03.2003	Desa Latta	0.10	1,952	97231
81.71.03.2004	Desa Negeri Lama	4.50	1,793	97232
81.71.03.2005	Desa Nania	0.12	4,519	97232
81.71.03.2006	Desa Waiheru	6.00	12,809	97233
81.71.03.1018	Kel. Lateri	2.01	6,057	97231

Teluk Ambon

Teluk Ambon District consists entirely of the southern portion portion of Leihitu (and thus does not include any part of the Leitimur Peninsula), and faces the core area of the city across Ambon Bay.

Kode Wilayah	Name of kelurahan, negeri or desa	Area in km2	Pop'n Estimate mid 2023<ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2024, Kecamatan Teluk Ambon Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8171031)</ref>	Post code
81.71.04.2001	Desa Hunuth (Durian Patah)	2.00	3,457	97233
81.71.04.2002	Desa Poka	2.78	5,505	97233
81.71.04.2003	Neg. Rumah Tiga	28.39	9,506	97234
81.71.04.2004	Desa Wayame	7.50	6,590	97234
81.71.04.2005	Neg. Tawiri	5.68	6,135	97235
81.71.04.2006	Neg. Hative Besar	30.00	6,172	97234
81.71.04.2007	Neg. Laha	17.00	5,953	97236
81.71.04.2008	Kel. Tihu	0.33	1,197	97237

Leitimur Selatan

Leitimur Selatan District consists of the southeastern and eastern parts of the Leitimur Peninsula.

Kode Wilayah	Name of kelurahan, negeri or desa	Area in km2	Pop'n Estimate mid 2023<ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2024, Kecamatan Leitimur Selatan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8171021)</ref>	Post code
81.71.05.2001	Neg. Hukurila	7.50	713	97129
81.71.05.2002	Neg. Ema	3.00	819	97129
81.71.05.2003	Neg. Kilang	5.00	879	97129
81.71.05.2004	Neg. Naku	5.00	727	97129
81.71.05.2005	Neg. Hatalai	5.00	1,025	97129
81.71.05.2006	Neg. Hutumuri	15.00	4,413	97237
81.71.05.2007	Neg. Rutong	5.00	835	97237
81.71.05.1008	Neg. Leahari	5.00	683	97237

Religion

Based on the 2010 census, the city was populated by 331,254 people; in the 2020 Census, this had reached 348,288 people, and the official estimate was 357,289 as at mid 2024.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2025">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kota Ambon Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8171)</ref> In 2010, the religious breakdown in Ambon was 50.78% Christians (with 48.37% being Protestants and 2.41% Catholics), 49.02% Muslims and 3% others.

File:The Cathedral of Ambon.jpg

The Cathedral of Ambon

Economy

Economic growth rate of Ambon City in 2014 was 5.96%. Gross Domestic Regional Product in 2014 both at current market price and at constant market price was increasing gradually. The increase, if compared to 2013 GDRP at current market price equal to 12.76 percent and 5.96 percent for GDRP at constant market price. The GDRP at current market price in Ambon 2014 was equal to Rp.9.9 trillion, whereas for GDRP at constant 2010 market price, it was equal to Rp.7.77 trillion.<ref name=":0">Anonymous.2015. Ambon City in Figures 2015.Indonesia: BPS Ambon Regional Office</ref>

In 2014, the gross domestic product per capita of Ambon based on current prices grew by 8.3 percent, while for the constant price in Ambon City grew by 1.7 percent. GDP per capita of Ambon City in 2014 is 25.16 Million (U $1,836.43). The poverty rate in the city of Ambon is 4.42% which is the smallest percentage of poverty in the province of Maluku.<ref name=":0"/>

All twenty one economic sectors in 2014 saw positive growth for GDRP of Ambon. For GDRP at current market price, the highest contribution was provided by the electricity and gas Sector with 34.2 percent, while the lowest was human health and Social Work activities with 6.61 percent.Template:Citation needed

Education

The city has 17 higher education institutions. These are:

State-owned institutions

1. Pattimura University
2. Ambon State Polytechnic

Private Institutions

1. College of Protestant Christianity Ambon
2. Trinity College of Administrative Sciences
3. Abdul Aziz Kataloka College of Administrative Sciences
4. Rutu Nusa College of Economics Management
5. Pasapua College of Health
6. University of Darussalam Ambon
7. Christian University of Indonesia Maluku
8. Maritime Academy Maluku
9. Caritas Secretary and Management Academy
10. Ambon College of Computer Sciences
11. Indonesian Islamic Religion Institute Ambon
12. Industrial Academy ( AKPER RUKMIT ) Ambon
13. Evangelical Theology College Indonesia
14. Bethel Theology College Ambon
15. St. Yohanes College Ambon

Places of interest

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Fort Victoria is a Portuguese and Dutch heritage fortress located in the heart of Ambon City

• Merah Putih Bridge
• Monument of Pattimura, Lapangan Merdeka
• Monument of Christina Martha Tiahahu, Karang Panjang
• Pattimura Stadium
• Ambon Plaza
• Liang beach
• Natsepa beach
• Santai Beach Resort
• Pintu Kota beach
• Galala-Poka Ferry crossing
• Batu Merah
• Ambon Bay at sunset
• Museum Siwalima at Batu Capeu
• Pukul Sapu Dance at Morela and Mamala (after seven days of Muslim's Eid al-Fitri)
• Siwang Paradise<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

Ambon is served by Pattimura International Airport.

Twin towns – sister cities

Template:See also Ambon is twinned with:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Template:Flagicon Darwin, Australia
• Template:Flagicon Vlissingen, Netherlands

Sources

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite webTemplate:Self-published source
• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book

Further reading

• Template:Cite report

External links

• Human Rights Watch report on the conflict