Editing Natuna Regency (section)

===Annexation Period by the Dutch East Indies===
In the early 19th century, the [[Dutch East Indies|Dutch]] further expanded their colonial power in the Indonesian archipelago, including the Natuna Islands. In [[Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824|The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824]] between  the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the two colonial powers divided their territories in Southeast Asia, with the Netherlands controlling the Indonesian archipelago and England controlling the Malay Peninsula. With this agreement, the Netherlands felt they had rights over areas in the Riau Islands, including Natuna.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty (Treaty of London) of 1824 |url=https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=5005d886-9c27-421e-a22d-44fb5965350c |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=www.nlb.gov.sg}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=James Robert Rush|title=Southeast Asia: A Very Short Introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SU5WDwAAQBAJ|page=58|year=2018|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780190248765}}</ref>

However, due to its remote location and inaccessibility, the Dutch initially did not supervise the Natuna Islands directly. It was not until the mid-19th century that the Dutch East Indies began to explore the Natuna Islands further and officially annexed the islands into their colonial territory. The aim was to strengthen control in strategic waters and secure trade routes. The Dutch colonial government then designated Natuna as part of the [[Riau Residency]] under the supervision of the Riau Resident based in [[Tanjungpinang|Tanjung Pinang]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bintankab |title=Sejarah Kabupaten Bintan |url=https://bintankab.go.id/sejarah#:~:text=2.%20Afdelling%20Indragiri%20yang%20berkedudukan,Bunguran%20Barat%20dan%20Bunguran%20Timur. |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=bintankab.go.id |language=id}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sultan van Lingga en Riouw en Onderhorigheden, Abdoel Rachman Maädlam Sjah in Riouw (KITLV 82001) |url=https://catalogue.leidenuniv.nl/discovery/fulldisplay/alma9939051584902711/31UKB_LEU:UBL_V1 |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Leiden University Catalogue}}</ref>

During the Dutch colonial period, life in the Natuna Islands remained largely agrarian and simple. The Dutch did little infrastructure development in the area, although they often patrolled the border to maintain security.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://repositori.kemdikbud.go.id/25040/1/SEJARAH%20WILAYAH%20PERBATASAN%20KEPULAUAN%20NATUNA%20MUTIARA%20DI%20UJUNG%20UTARA.pdf |title=Sejarah Wilayah Perbatasan Kepulauan Natuna: Mutiara di Ujung Utara |website=Repositori Kemdikbud |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref>