On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the Department of History, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a public lecture for History students and the wider community. The lecture explored tourism studies in the Dutch East Indies, with a particular focus on Java during the colonial period. The event featured Dr. Arnout van der Meer, historian, researcher, and faculty member at Colby College, United States, renowned for his expertise in global and Southeast Asian history. Also present were Dr. Abdul Wahid, M.Hum., M.Phil., Head of the Department of History at UGM, and Uji Nugroho Winardi, S.S., M.A., who served as moderator.
In his presentation, Dr. Arnout van der Meer began by describing the topography and ecology of the Dutch East Indies, especially Java, with its breathtaking tropical forests, mountain ranges, and towering volcanic peaks. This striking natural landscape shaped new European perceptions of the colony, giving rise to the romanticized notion of Mooi Indie (“Beautiful Indies”). Such imagery fostered the growth of a new industry centered on leisure and tourism, particularly among European communities.
Advances in transportation technology and shifts in the colonial economy toward industrialization and capitalist expansion accelerated the development of tourism in Java. The influx of European capital and the settlement of bourgeois communities brought with them new lifestyles and demands. The expansion of railway networks in Java during the mid-19th century, which became fully operational by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, further enhanced connectivity and facilitated travel to emerging tourist destinations.
Alongside these developments, the growing interest in tourism spurred the establishment of luxurious hotels and accommodations in key destinations frequented by European travelers, such as Priangan, Batavia, Sarangan, and other regions. Archival records and travel accounts reveal that most tourists were drawn to mountain areas, prized for their scenic beauty and refreshing climate. In addition to natural attractions, the richness of Javanese cultural traditions and social life offered a distinctive allure for visitors.
The increasing interaction between Europeans and local communities in the context of tourism prompted the colonial government to develop Malay-language dictionaries and travel guides to facilitate communication. However, these tools reflected the social hierarchies of the time, as much of their content consisted of commands directed at indigenous people rather than fostering equal and reciprocal dialogue. This illustrates how tourism in colonial Java remained embedded within broader colonial strategies to reinforce European influence in the Dutch East Indies.
The lecture unfolded in an interactive, two-way format, with participants actively engaging in discussion and dialogue with the speaker. This enriched the exploration of issues and phenomena surrounding tourism in colonial Java.
Author: Mochamad Rizky Saputra
