A Market in Payakumbuh, 1911

Photo: Jean Demmeni/Universiteit Leiden

Payakumbuh was one of the cities in West Sumatra which became the administrative center of the Dutch East Indies colonial government. Payakumbuh was also a center for storing plantation products before being sent to other places.

Payakumbuh city center was built by the Dutch East Indies colonial government as the basis of its government. Because of that traces of colonial buildings can still be found in this city.

The photo above is of a market in Payakumbuh around 1911. From the photo above, it can be seen that the people in the market are busy, with typical Minangkabau-Islamic clothes dominating. There are also some people wearing Dutch-style clothes.