In June 1761, reverend Johan Maurits Mohr in colonial Batavia (nowadays Jakarta, Indonesia) participated in the local observation of the famous Venus transit. This event stimulated him to erect in 1768 an astronomical observatory on top of his impressive European-styled mansion, which site was equipped with state-of-the-art astronomical instruments, bought in England and the Netherlands. Here Mohr observed the Venus transit of 1769 and several other astronomical events. After his death, in 1775, the instruments were shipped to the Netherlands for repair. But after their arrival, they were only stored to an attic, left unnoticed for more than a decade. In 1787, after the Amsterdam learned Society ‘Felix Meritis’ had announced plans to erect a ‘Temple of Enlightenment’ for the housing of their activities, the almost forgotten instruments were offered to the board of this society. This opportunity led to alterations in the original scheme of the building, which already concerned the most ambitious attempt in the Dutch Republic for the integration of activities regarding literature, music, the arts, commerce and the natural sciences. So, on top of this new building, which was completed in 1790, a two-storey astronomical observatory with a platform was constructed, furnished with Mohr’s former instruments. They were complemented by some new instruments, bought in France and the Netherlands. In my presentation I will give an outline of both observatories and their importance for Dutch astronomy. How were they designed? Which instruments were used and with which ambition? What do we know about the transport between Europe and Asia in 1768, and back in 1775? And finally, what was the fate of these instruments after the closure of the 'Felix Meritis' Observatory in 1889?