Pekanbaru

Pekanbaru is the capital city of the Riau province in Indonesia. It sits on the eastern side of Sumatra Island. The city is located on the banks of the Siak River. This river flows into the Strait of Malacca. This position provides the city with direct access to a very busy strait. Because of this, Pekanbaru has long served as an important trading port. The name comes from the Malay words "pekan," meaning market, and "baru," meaning new.

The history of the city is deeply tied to the Siak River. In the 18th century, the river acted as a main route for goods. Merchants from the Minangkabau Highlands used the river to move commodities. These goods traveled down to the Strait of Malacca. The area was originally known as Senapelan. This name was derived from the "Sena," a tree that symbolizes the region. The area eventually transformed into a residential area called Dusun Payung Sekaki near the river mouth.

Official records help us understand the city's founding. On June 23, 1784, the area was named Pekanbaru. This happened during a meeting of the Council of Ministers from the Sultanate of Siak Sri Indrapura. This meeting included four tribal leaders, known as datuk, from the Minangkabau tribes. These tribes were the Pesisir, Lima Puluah, Tanah Datar, and Kampar. This specific date is now celebrated as the anniversary of the city.

During the colonial era, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) gained control of the Siak region. This occurred in 1745 through a treaty with the Sultan of Johor. Later, the Dutch crown took over all company ownership. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the city grew as a center for industry. It became a major hub for the coffee and coal industries. The Dutch built roads to help ship these goods to Singapore and Malacca. The city also maintained shipping connections through the Siak River.

The Second World War brought a difficult period to Pekanbaru. From February 1942 to August 1945, Japanese forces occupied the city. The Japanese military attempted to build a 220-kilometer-long railway. This line was meant to connect Pekanbaru to the Malacca Strait for logistics. The construction used forced labor, including 6,500 prisoners of war and over 100,000 Indonesian workers called Romusha. Many people died from malnutrition and diseases like malaria or dysentery. Today, this railway is unused and in a state of decay.

Pekanbaru is a very large and diverse urban center. It is the third most populous city on Sumatra Island. The 2020 Census recorded 983,356 people living in the city. By mid-2024, the official estimate reached 1,167,599 people. The population includes many ethnic groups. Riau Malays make up 30% of the population. There are also large communities of Minangkabau, Javanese, Batak, and Tionghoa people.

The city is also known for its religious diversity and cleanliness. Islam is the majority religion, and the An-Nur Great Mosque is a major site. Other residents practice Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, or Confucianism. You can find many different places of worship throughout the city. Pekanbaru is also recognized for being very clean. It received the "Adipura" award for being a clean large city for seven consecutive times starting in 2011.