Annisa Ariyanti
Department of Architecture, Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
Introduction
On August 31, 2025, I made an illustration of Tidal Flooding around the Tanjung Emas Port of Semarang. It revealed a complex interplay of historical legacy and contemporary challenges along Semarang’s northern coast.
Semarang, the capital city of Central Java, Indonesia, has long been a pivotal port city with deep historical and cultural roots. Once a strategic hub in the colonial maritime spice trade, its coastal zones, particularly around Tanjung Emas Port, Tambak Lorok Fisherman’s Village, and Kota Tua (Old Town), are now facing severe environmental pressures. (Fig.1) These areas have become increasingly vulnerable to land subsidence and recurrent coastal flooding in recent decades, revealing a shifting relationship between human settlement, infrastructure, and the natural landscape. This environmental transformation not only threatens the physical integrity of urban spaces, but also reshaping how communities experience and remember the port city.
The urban narrative is further enriched by Semarang’s layered past, including the relocation of its port and the curious fact that a former bustling harbor is now the site of a cemetery, an evocative symbol of change over time. Together, these elements underline the urgency of understanding and addressing the city’s evolving coastal condition within both historical and urban contexts.
The Spice Trade and Semarang’s Golden Era
During the height of the spice trade in the 16th and 17th centuries, Semarang emerged as a crucial node in the maritime silk and spice routes. Spices such as cloves, nutmeg, and pepper were harvested in the eastern archipelagos and transported via Semarang to European markets. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a significant presence in the city, building fortifications, canals, and administrative centers to control trade and suppress resistance.
Semarang’s position on Java’s northern coast made it a key logistical hub. Its port connected hinterland agricultural products like rice, coffee, and indigo with international markets. The influx of trade also turned the city into a melting pot of cultures, as Chinese, Arabian, Indian, and European merchants settled and intermarried with the local Javanese population (Lombard, 2005). The legacy of this multicultural past is still visible today in the city’s diverse architecture, cuisine, and religious practices.
The Lost Port and the Cemetery
One of the lesser-known but fascinating facts about Semarang’s history is that its original port was located much farther inland than today. Historical maps and Dutch records indicate that the earliest port in Semarang was situated around what is now the Bergota area, near the Kalibanteng River. Over time, sedimentation and changes in the river's course led to the gradual relocation of port activities closer to the coastline (Winarno, 2017).
Interestingly, the original site of the port has long since been converted into a cemetery. Known today as the Bergota Cemetery, this area lies significantly inland and at a higher elevation compared to the current Tanjung Emas Port. The transformation from a bustling maritime gateway to a solemn burial ground underscores the city’s evolving geography and its entwinement with colonial and postcolonial histories.
Land Subsidence and Coastal Vulnerability
The northern part of Semarang is experiencing severe land subsidence, primarily due to excessive groundwater extraction, rapid urban development, and natural geological processes. Some areas are sinking by as much as 10-15 centimeters per year, making it one of the fastest-sinking cities in the world (Abidin et al., 2011). Compounded by rising sea levels due to climate change, this phenomenon has resulted in regular tidal flooding (locally known as rob) that damages infrastructure, disrupts daily life, and displaces communities. (Fig.2)
Tanjung Emas Port: Strategic but Sinking
Tanjung Emas Port is the economic lifeline of Semarang, functioning as a vital maritime gateway for cargo and passenger transport across Java and beyond. However, its strategic location is also its greatest vulnerability. Situated on low-lying and subsidence-prone land, the port faces frequent tidal flooding (Fig. 2), disrupting operations and compromising trade logistics (Setiawan et al., 2022). These disruptions ripple through regional and national supply chains, illustrating how environmental degradation can directly impact economic infrastructure. Although structural interventions like sea walls and polder systems have been implemented, they are increasingly insufficient against the accelerating pace of land subsidence and sea-level rise, raising questions about the long-term resilience of the port.
Environmental Vulnerability in Tambak Lorok and Surrounding Coastal Communities
The coastal slum communities, particularly in Tambak Lorok and nearby villages like Bandarharjo, bear the brunt of Semarang’s environmental crisis. These communities of traditional fishermen and their families live quite literally on the edge. Caught between a rising sea and expanding industrial zones, this area's background as a coastal livelihood hub is increasingly overshadowed by daily struggles against tidal flooding, poor sanitation, and industrial pollution (Takarina & Pranowo, 2018).
The environmental degradation has led to declining health conditions, damaged homes, and deepened poverty. These areas are characterized by informal housing, poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and inadequate infrastructure, highlighting how systemic vulnerability is not just ecological, but also social and economic. As sea levels rise and land continues to sink, residents face frequent evacuations, loss of property, and health risks such as waterborne diseases. The case of Tambak Lorok reveals the urgent need for climate adaptation policies that center on community resilience and social equity.
The fisheries crisis in Tambak Lorok, Tanjung Mas, Semarang, Indonesia has become a major issue because it concerns the survival of thousands of traditional fishermen who depend on the sea as their main source of livelihood. A multifaceted approach has been implemented to support the local fishing community. One significant initiative involves training fishermen to process unsold catch into ready-to-eat products, such as fish nuggets, sausages, and meatballs. This not only reduces waste but also provides alternative income sources for the fishermen.
Additionally, the government has invested in infrastructure projects to mitigate environmental challenges that affect fishing activities. A notable example is the construction of a 3.6 kilometer seawall designed to prevent flooding in the area for at least the next 30 years. This project also includes the development of retention ponds and pump houses to further protect the community from flood risks.
These combined efforts aim to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the fishing industry in Tambak Lorok, attempting to ensure the well-being of its residents and the continuity of their livelihoods.
The coastal slum communities of Semarang, most notably Tambak Lorok and the adjacent village of Bandarharjo, are at the frontline of the city’s environmental crisis. Home to generations of traditional fishermen, these densely populated areas are increasingly threatened by a combination of climate-related and human-induced pressures. The communities live in precarious conditions between rising sea levels, persistent land subsidence, and the expansion of nearby industrial zones (Takarina & Pranowo, 2018).
What were once thriving hubs of small-scale fisheries have become zones of chronic vulnerability. Informal housing, poor sanitation, unreliable access to clean water, and deteriorating infrastructure compound residents' exposure to environmental hazards. Flooding is frequent, often requiring evacuations, while stagnant water and waste runoff contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases. Industrial waste from nearby ports and factories contaminates coastal waters, further endangering health, compromising food security, and threatening livelihoods reliant on fishing.
This convergence of ecological degradation, urban marginalization, and economic precarity highlights the need for urgent, multi-dimensional interventions. Effective climate adaptation strategies must be locally grounded and socially inclusive, centered on strengthening community resilience by improving infrastructure, and regulating industrial impacts. The situation in Tambak Lorok exemplifies how environmental justice and urban planning must be integrated to ensure sustainable and equitable development in vulnerable coastal zones.
Kota Tua Semarang: Heritage Under Threat
Once the core of colonial trade in the Dutch East Indies, Kota Tua Semarang boasts a rich tapestry of 17th- and 18th-century architecture. This historic district has long been a symbol of the city's urban legacy and a growing site for heritage tourism. However, the same environmental threats facing other parts of northern Semarang are also accelerating the decay of these historic buildings. Restoration and revitalization efforts in recent years have brought attention and investment, yet they struggle to keep pace with physical deterioration and climate-related risks. The challenge in Kota Tua lies in balancing historical preservation with adaptive reuse, all while navigating the precarious realities of a changing environment.
Conclusion
The northern region of Semarang embodies a profound interplay between its rich maritime history and ongoing environmental challenges. Historically, areas like Kota Tua, Tanjung Emas Port, and Tambak Lorok have served as vital trade and cultural exchange hubs, symbolizing the city’s enduring maritime legacy. However, these sites now tell a different story, one marked by transformation, environmental neglect, and resilience. Rising sea levels, land subsidence, and rapid urbanization have drastically altered the physical landscape and affected the socio-economic and cultural fabric of the region. What was once a vibrant center of growth and exchange now serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for sustainable urban planning.
As Semarang continues to expand, addressing issues such as land subsidence, coastal erosion, and climate change becomes critical. Equally important is the preservation of its unique history and cultural identity. A holistic approach combining engineering solutions, community engagement, and historical conservation is essential to manage environmental risks effectively. Such strategies will help create resilient, inclusive, and culturally grounded urban spaces. By weaving together these efforts, Semarang can protect vulnerable communities, sustain its maritime heritage, and develop a future where development and preservation support each other, rather than compete. This integrated vision offers hope for a city that honors its past while adapting to future environmental realities.
Acknowledgments
This blog post has been written in the context of discussions in the LDE PortCityFutures research community. It reflects the evolving thoughts of the authors and expresses the discussions between researchers on the socio-economic, spatial, and cultural questions surrounding port city relationships. This blog was edited by the PortCityFutures editorial team: Wenjun Feng and Nathan Döding.
References
Abidin, H. Z., Andreas, H., Gumilar, I., Sidiq, T. P., & Fukuda, Y. (2011). Land subsidence in the coastal city of Semarang (Indonesia): Characteristics, impacts and causes. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 2(3), 229–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2011.562610
Lombard, D. (2005). Nusa Jawa: Silang budaya (Vol. 2): Jaringan Asia (2nd ed.). Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
Takarina, N. D., & Pranowo, W. S. (2018). Environmental stress and socio-economic vulnerability in the coastal area of Tambak Lorok, Semarang. Marine Research in Indonesia, 43(1), 23–31. https://doi.org/10.14203/mri.v43i1.450
Winarno, S. (2017). Perubahan lokasi pelabuhan Semarang dari masa ke masa berdasarkan peta sejarah. Indonesian Journal of Maritime History, 6(1), 12–26.