# Gombong

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This article is about the Indonesian town. For the South Korean mountain, see [Gombong (mountain)](/source/Gombong_(mountain)).

**Gombong** is a [town](/source/List_of_districts_of_Central_Java) in [Kebumen Regency](/source/Kebumen_Regency), in the southern part of [Central Java](/source/Central_Java), a province in [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia). The town has 50,300 inhabitants at the 2020 Census,[1] while the estimate as at mid 2024 was 50,950.[2] The total land area is 19.48 km2 (7.52 sq mi). Local people speak [Banyumasan](/source/Banyumasan_language), a dialect of [Javanese](/source/Javanese_language).

In 1964, construction of the Catholic Church of St. Michael Parish was completed. In 1996, the *Wonokriyo market* was built, becoming the biggest one in the region. A few dinosaur statues are located around the town: at the entrance of Fort Van der Wijck, at Tirta Manggala Swimming Pools and at Sempor Reservoir.[3] Not far from the town, the prayer house [Geraja Ayam](/source/Geraja_Ayam), also known as the *chicken church*, is built.

Fort Van der Wijck, which was built in the early 19th century by General [Johannes Van den Bosch](/source/Johannes_Van_den_Bosch), is located in the northern part of the town.[4] The military compound served to train soldiers for later service in the [Royal Netherlands East Indies Army](/source/Royal_Netherlands_East_Indies_Army). [Suharto](/source/Suharto), the second [President of Indonesia](/source/President_of_Indonesia), began his service here on 1 June 1940 prior to the [Japanese occupation](/source/Japanese_occupation_of_the_Dutch_East_Indies)).[5] The fort was used by the [Indonesian Armed Forces](/source/Indonesian_Armed_Forces) until 2000. Since then the compound has been developed as a recreational site.

## Administrative villages

Gombong consists of 14 [villages](/source/Administrative_village) (comprising two urban *kelurahan* - Gombong and Wonokriyo - and twelve rural *desa*):

1. Banjarsari
1. Gombong
1. Kalitengah
1. Kedungpuji
1. Kemukus
1. Klopogodo
1. Panjangsari
1. Patemon
1. Semanding
1. Semondo
1. Sidayu
1. Wero
1. Wonokriyo
1. Wonosigro

## Notable people

- [Maus Gatsonides](/source/Maus_Gatsonides) (1911–1998), Dutch rally driver and inventor of the [speed camera](/source/Speed_camera).
- [Kasino Hadiwibowo](/source/Kasino_(comedian)) (1950–1997), Indonesian comedian and member of [Warkop](/source/Warkop) group.
- [Willem Nijholt](/source/Willem_Nijholt) (1934–2023), Dutch actor.

## References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, *Kabupaten Kebumen Dalam Angka 2025* (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3305)

1. ["See the dinosaurs in district Gombong"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110725110445/http://www.gombong-guide.com/2011/07/see-dinosaurs-in-district-gombong.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.gombong-guide.com/2011/07/see-dinosaurs-in-district-gombong.html) on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-08-06.

1. ["History of Fort Van der Wijck"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080512040917/http://www.indahnesia.com/indonesia/JAWWIJ/fort_van_der_wijck.php). Archived from [the original](http://indahnesia.com/indonesia/JAWWIJ/fort_van_der_wijck.php) on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2011-08-05.

1. Elson, Robert E. (2001). *Suharto: A Political Biography*. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 8. ISBN 0-521-77326-1.

## External links

- [Official website](http://kec-gombong.kebumenkab.go.id)
- [Former Dutch fort Van Der Wijck](http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Indonesia/Kebumen-1216749/Things_To_Do-Kebumen-TG-C-1.html#tip=2066282)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gombong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gombong) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gombong?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.