Blenduk Church

18th-century Dutch Reformed church with a distinctive copper dome

The Blenduk Church (officially GPIB Immanuel) was built in 1753 and rebuilt in its current form in 1894, making it one of the oldest Dutch Reformed churches in Indonesia still standing in something close to its original condition. Its domed interior — all whitewash, dark wood, and high windows — has the austere beauty of Dutch Protestant architecture transplanted to the tropics.

The church anchors the Kota Lama (Old Town) district and is surrounded by the colonial-era warehouses and trading houses that made Semarang one of the great ports of the Dutch East Indies. From the outside, the green copper dome rising above the Dutch facades is the definitive image of old Semarang.

The church is open for visitors outside of service times, and a small donation is appreciated. It is a short walk from Tawang railway station, which makes for a natural arrival or departure landmark.

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A story
Blenduk is a Javanese word meaning "dome," and locals gave the church the nickname because the colonial name — GPIB Immanuel — never stuck. The copper dome has turned the characteristic verdigris green over the centuries and is visible from across the Kota Lama quarter. Services are still held here on Sundays, making it one of the oldest continuously functioning churches in Indonesia.