Kupang
Representatives of the Dutch East India Company approached Kupang in 1613 after having conquered the Portuguese fort on Solor. At this time the place and its hinterland was governed by a raja of the Helong tribe which claimed descent from Ceram in Maluku. Kupang was well situated for strategic control over parts of Timor, since it was possible to monitor shipping activities to the south coast of the island. Moreover, the Koinino River provided fresh water for the inhabitants. A VOC-Helong agreement was made, but due to the lack of VOC commitment on Timor, Kupang was later influenced by the Portuguese mestizo population of Flores, the Topasses. A Portuguese stronghold was established by the 1640s. However, the VOC was firmly established on Solor in 1646, and renewed contacts with the local raja. In January 1653 a Dutch fortification, Fort Concordia, was built on a height to the left of the river estuary. Kupang became the base of the Dutch struggle against the Portuguese. After a series of Dutch defeats in 1655, 1656 and 1657, large refugee groups from the VOC allies Sonbai and Amabi settled in the vicinity of Kupang in 1658 and formed small kingdoms on land that traditionally belonged to the Helong. They were followed by two other groups, Amfoan (1683) and Taebenu (1688). The Helong raja remained the "lord of the land" (tuan tanah) but was closely dependent on the VOC authorities. Apart from the old Helong territory, Timor was largely dominated by the Portuguese up to 1749.
The Dutch set up a European administration with a chief executive and a council. Affairs with the indigenous populations were regulated through regular meetings (vergaderingen). The Kupang administration handled affairs with the VOC-allied islands Rote, Savu and Solor. Chinese traders and artisans settled by the early 18th century and soon became indispensable for the economic life. The town area was also settled by various indigenous groups from the region, and by mardijkers who were non-whites under Dutch jurisdiction. In 1752 the population was 827 Christians and an unspecified number of non-Christians. The political importance of Kupang on a Timor-wide level increased greatly in 1749 when the Topasses were decisively defeated by the Dutch and their allies, which led to the extension of VOC influence over wide areas of western and central Timor. Nevertheless, some of this influence contracted after 1761 due to incompetence and inaction on the part of the colonial administration.
As a consequence of the occupation of the Netherlands at the hands of the French revolutionary armies in 1795, the VOC possessions in East India were attacked by British forces. Kupang was assaulted in 1797. The British were eventually expelled although the town was reduced to rubble. A new British attack was likewise defeated in 1811. After the British occupation of Java, Kupang finally surrendered in January 1812. The British returned the town to the Dutch in 1816. The political strongman in the early 19th century was Jacobus Arnoldus Hazaart who governed Dutch Timor as Resident in 1810-12, 1814â€"18 and 1819â€"32 and handled matters without much interference from the colonial government in Batavia. During his time the Christian mission made a deeper impact through the efforts of the missionary Reint LeBruyn. The town was opened to foreign trade in 1825 and fees were abolished three years later. Kupang was often visited by whalers from Britain and North America. However, the relocation of whale hunting areas made Kupang a less lively place in the late 19th century, although it was a free port after 1866. The five small kingdoms that surrounded the town area (the Helong kingdom of Kupang, Sonbai Kecil, Amabi, Taebenu and Funai) were merged into the zelfbesturend landschap (self-ruling territory) Kupang in 1917, but in spite of the name it didn't include the town itself. From 1918 to 1955 it was governed by the Nisnoni family, a branch of the Sonbai Dynasty.
In the early twentieth century, the city was used for landing and refueling by long distance airplane flights between Europe and Australia. It was occupied by the Japanese in 1942-1945, and much of the old town was destroyed by allied bombing. During the time of the Indonesian revolution 1945-1949 there was nationalist agitation in Kupang, but no actual fighting. Kupang was part of the colonial pseudo-state East Indonesia that was set up by the Dutch, and the town area was included in the zelfbesturend landschap Kupang. The latter was phased out after the achievement of independence. Kupang was an important location during the conflict in East Timor, for the Indonesian military, as well as the militias. The camps around Kupang were also of significant impact on the city.
In 1967, the city was made the seat of the Diocese of Kupang. In 1989 the diocese was elevated to become the Archdiocese of Kupang.
Kupang is a multi-ethnic city of the tribe of Timor, Rote, Sabu, Flores, a small ethnic Chinese and immigrants from Ambon and several other tribes. At the 2010 Census, the city had 336,239 residents. Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics in 2011, Kupang residents is numbered 349,344 people, consist of 179,323 males and 170,021 females.
In 2010 Kupang City was divided into 4 districts, tabulated below with their 2010 Census population.
The formal sector of the manufacturing sector in the Kupang area is mainly based on the cement industry. The export and import of goods from the local port is also an important part of the regional economy. Local service sector activities also employ significant numbers of people in the informal sector.
Fish exports from East Nusa Tenggara centralized through the Port of Fisheries in Tenau, Kupang. Japan, East Timor, United States, and Thailand is four fish export destinations.
Kupang is the 1st port of call for yachts in the annual Sail Indonesia rally which starts in Darwin, Australia towards the end of July each year. In 2006 about 100 yachts from around the world took part in the rally. From Kupang yachts head north to Alor and then stop at various ports in Indonesia over a period of about three months ending up in Singapore.
Kupang city has an airport with the name El Tari Airport. Formerly named Penfui Airport. This airport serves the flight from Kupang to several cities in Indonesia.
Kupang harbour is a harbour in Kupang that can serve both cargo and passenger ships. Passengers typically advance through Kupang to destinations such as Ruteng, Baa, Kalabahi and others. Currently the Commercial Port is located in Tenau and Bolok, which is a Kupang regency. Kupang Namosain is a natural sea port that is now laid out better. This port serves timber ships heading to Rote, Semau and areas around the city of Kupang. Previously the port was also used by fishermen to unload their catches. Kupang Harbor is an old sea port now berthing sailboats from abroad and has become a stopover in saling Indonesia from Darwin, Australia.
| Land transport system minibus transportation | in Kupang is served by commonly called bemo. |
The city is saving a lot of charm, especially fans of sea food. Also squid and prawns fresh sweet aroma when burned emit very appetizing. Besides, travelers will also be presented with a special food Kupang, the jagung bose. The food is made from a mixture of corn and vegetables and whole grains. There is also Se'i, a bacon or smoked pork/beef and mixed with salt and spices so the taste was sweet and salty.Se'i gets its smokey taste from how its cooked. Normally after the meat is salted it is wrapped in a bunch of banana leaves together with some spices and is smoked over an open fire. Se'i was used during the war to preserve food this allowed the soldiers to carry it around with them wherever they went.
One more unique is the seller of roasted corn that stretched along the sidewalk on the El Tari Road became a favorite place of young people in Kupang.
Related Sites for Kupang
- Kupang, Indonesia - Travel Guide, Info & Bookings â€" Lonely Planet read Kupang
- Kupang | Indonesia - dutchpickle read Kupang
- Kupang - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia read Kupang
- Kupang Klub House - Online Information Directory for Kupang, … read Kupang
