Photo: Carl E. Lang/National Gallery of Australia
Since the transportation revolution with the advent of steamships and the opening of the Suez Canal, as well as the telecommunications revolution with the advent of the telegraph, the distance between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies has shortened.
As a result, more and more people, goods and capital flowed from the Netherlands to its colonies. Many Dutch people who worked and settled in the Dutch East Indies became rich, on average they were high-ranking colonial government officials or who worked in the private sector such as plantations and mining.
These rich people often gathered with each other to socialize, enjoyed entertainment, and strengthened their relationships. To meet this need, Societeit buildings were built in various cities in the Dutch East Indies, such as Batavia and Bogor.
The photo above is the Societeit building in Bogor circa 1880 published by Carl E. Lang. The building is typical of Europe with tropical climate adjustments, namely wide doors and windows for air exchange.