Bandung is one of the cities in Indonesia known for its popularity in music, fashion, shopping destinations, and youth culture. Located not far from the capital Jakarta, Bandung's popularity dates back to the colonial era when the Dutch government developed the city in the early 1900s as a tourist destination for Europeans in the Dutch East Indies (the name before Indonesia). It's no wonder that the city has been described as cosmopolitan, or referred to as a Western and European laboratory in the tropics.
Several factors contribute to Bandung's cosmopolitan nature, including its role as an entertainment and educational center during the colonial era. On the other hand, the presence of educational institutions often made Bandung a key point for many cultural changes in the Dutch East Indies.