It is part of the presidential palace compound which has a total area of 68,000 m², along with three other buildings: Bina Graha which was formerly used as the President's Office, Wisma Negara on the western side which is used as the state guest house, and the office for the Ministry of State Secretariat of Indonesia.

It was built by Jacob Andries van Braam, a Dutchman who between 1810 and 1819 held several high positions in government, to be made his residence.

The building was built during the tenure of Governor General Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten, shortly after the completion of another lavish residence which later would become Hotel der Nederlanden.

[4] Important occasions such as formal ceremonies or the Indies Council Meeting every Wednesday were held in the palace.

Governor-General Tjarda Van Starkenborch signed a capitulation to the Japanese army in the palace on 8 March 1942.

Some of these include the declaration of the cultuur stelsel system by the Governor-General Graaf van den Bosch, the ratification ceremony of the Linggadjati Agreement on 25 March 1947, and the recognition of Indonesia's independence on 27 December 1949.

In 1848, the upper floor was partly demolished, and the lower expanded to accommodate more individuals, and thus present a more formal portrayal.

In the room, there are Javanese and Balinese Gamelan sets used for cultural performance purposes and a podium.

The Ruang Jamuan (Banquet Hall) is used to provide hospitality and repasts to state guests within the palace.