Netherlands East Indies

The Netherlands East Indies was a colony of the Netherlands that included what is now Indonesia. It was established in the 19th century and became a major source of wealth for the Dutch due to its spice, rice, and rubber production. The region was governed as a Dutch colony until Indonesia gained independence after World War II, officially becoming the Republic of Indonesia in 1949. The period was marked by economic exploitation, cultural changes, and the struggle for independence by the Indonesian people.