In 1663 the city came under the authority of the Dutch and a trading post was built in 1680. During the 16th and 17th centuries pepper was cultivated and traded with India, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Padang has been a trade centre since the 16th century, having been controlled by the Pagaruyung Kingdom and the Aceh Sultanate.

In 1906, Padang along with Palembang became the first populated places in Sumatra to achieve city status ( gemeente). Save for several interruptions of British rule, Padang remained part of the Dutch East Indies as one of its major cities until Indonesian independence. The Dutch made contact with the city in the mid 17th century, eventually constructing a fortress and taking over control of the city from the Pagaruyung Kingdom. The city had historically been a trading center since the pre-colonial era, trading in pepper and gold.

Padang is widely known for its Minangkabau culture, cuisine, and sunset beaches. The Padang metropolitan area is the third most populous metropolitan area in Sumatra with a population of over 1.4 million. With a Census population of 1,015,000 as of 2022, it is the 16th most populous city in Indonesia and the most populous city on the west coast of Sumatra.

Padang ( Indonesian pronunciation: ) is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of West Sumatra.

Sumatera barat indonesia