The History of the Jam Gadang Clock as a Tourism Icon of West Sumatra

RRI.CO.ID, Padang - After its centenary on June 20, 2026, the Jam Gadang (Jam Gadang) still stands majestically as a symbol of pride for the Minangkabau people and one of Indonesia's most famous tourism icons. For 100 years, this clock tower, located in the heart of Bukittinggi City, has not only served as a timepiece but also as a witness to the history of West Sumatra, from the colonial era, the struggle for independence, to the development of modern tourism.

Jam Gadang was built on June 20, 1926, during the Dutch East Indies era. The tower was a gift from Queen Wilhelmina to H.R. Rookmaaker, the controller of Fort de Kock, the former name of Bukittinggi City. The tower cost approximately 3,000 guilders to build and was designed by Minangkabau architect Yazid Abidin, also known as Jazid Rajo Mangkuto, with the assistance of local experts.

The name "Jam Gadang" comes from the Minangkabau language, meaning "Big Clock." To this day, this name has become a defining characteristic of Bukittinggi and West Sumatra.

One of the unique features of the Jam Gadang Clock Tower is its construction technique, which uses neither cement nor an iron frame. The 26-meter-tall structure was constructed using a mixture of lime, white sand, and egg whites as a binder, a proven method of maintaining its strength despite weathering various natural disasters and the changing times.

The clock movement was imported directly from Germany and made by Bernard Vortmann in the town of Recklinghausen. Another unique feature is the use of the Roman numeral "IIII" to represent the number four, as opposed to the more common "IV." This distinctive feature remains a tourist attraction to this day.

During its century-long existence, the Jam Gadang Clock Tower has witnessed numerous important events. The tower witnessed the Dutch colonial period, the Japanese occupation, the struggle for independence, and the development of Bukittinggi City as a center of education, trade, and government in West Sumatra. Bukittinggi even served as Indonesia's emergency capital during the independence revolution.

Besides being a historical tourist attraction, the Jam Gadang area also hosts various cultural activities, Minangkabau arts festivals, traditional dance performances, and New Year's celebrations, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Due to its high historical value, Jam Gadang is often referred to as the "memory keeper" of Bukittinggi City and a symbol of the long journey of the Minangkabau people.