This book offers a comprehensive exploration of Medan's development, blending rigorous research with narrative flair to recreate the historical ambience of the city and its people. Divided into three sections, the book delves into the evolution of Medan and its strategic role in the plantation economy, examines the lives and contributions of its prominent Chinese community, and follows the rise and fall of European and Chinese enterprises.

The book draws upon multiple historical archives from the Netherlands, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Switzerland, and many more, combined with images and interviews. Together, these resources provide a compelling backdrop to the narratives of influential figures and also everyday people. By situating local developments within the broader context of global events—such as economic and political shifts in Asia—the book provides a thorough understanding of Medan’s role as a truly cosmopolitan city in the Dutch Indies. The book is designed to invite readers into a unique past, using language and place names of the era to enhance authenticity.

Budiman Minasny is Professor of Soil Science at the University of Sydney and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Originally from Medan, he has published on the region’s history alongside his internationally recognised work in soil mapping and modelling. He is also a member of the China Studies Centre at Sydney University.

Dirk Aedsge Buiskool is a historian. He was lecturing in history at the Groningen Volksuniversiteit and the University of North Sumatra. In Medan he co-founded Tri Jaya Tour & Travel and Hotel Deli River. Dirk contributed to different historical journals and books and published the award-winning book De reis van Harm Kamerlingh Onnes. In 2019, he received his PhD from Utrecht University with the thesis "Prominent Chinese During the Rise of a Colonial City: Medan 1890-1942."