*Photo: [Hilbrand](https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/fotocollectie/detail?limitstart=17&q_searchfield=indonesie&language=nl&imageType=Foto)*

At first, the Dutch people who came to Indonesia were only soldiers and VOC employees. After the VOC went bankrupt, the Dutch colonial government took over power in Indonesia. So, the Dutch who settled in Indonesia were mostly employees of the colonial government.

But everything changed after the transportation and telecommunications revolution in the 19th century, namely the invention of the steam engine and the telegraph, and the opening of the Suez Canal.

The invention of the steam engine by James Watt in the 18th century in addition to triggering the industrial revolution also sparked a transportation revolution with the presence of steamships replacing sailing ships.

Coupled with the opening of the Suez Canal, which reduces the distance and travel time between Europe and Asia, the relationship between the two continents is even closer.

Then the discovery of the telegraph made the telecommunications lines opened which previously was only by mail.

As a result, capital from the Netherlands began to flow into Indonesia. Dutch companies began to invest in Indonesia. Many workers from the Netherlands began to settle in Indonesia, the number of Dutch colonies in Indonesia grew significantly.

The photo above shows this, Dutch civilians relaxing taking pictures in front of a hotel around 1915-1925. The inscription on the front of the hotel was "Langensarie", which is an area in West Java.