Kade van Padang met aangemeerde zeilschepen 1891 - 1912

This photograph shows the Kade van Padang with sailing ships moored along the docks. It was taken by Christiaan Benjamin Nieuwenhuis at the turn of the century. As a historical document, this image speaks to the complex social and economic landscape of the Dutch East Indies. Padang was a vital port city on the west coast of Sumatra, deeply enmeshed in the colonial trade networks of the era. The presence of both traditional sailing vessels and railway lines tells a story of transition, of old and new technologies coexisting in a society undergoing rapid transformation. We can understand this photograph as a window into the institutional history of the Dutch East Indies, revealing the ways in which colonial power structures shaped the built environment and the lives of the people who inhabited it. To truly understand an image like this, we must consult a range of historical resources, from shipping records to colonial archives. Only then can we begin to grasp the full significance of this seemingly simple photograph.