Acehs

Acehs is not a widely used term. In English, the region is generally referred to as Aceh, a province of Indonesia, and its people are called Acehnese. The plural form Acehs is rare and may cause confusion.

Aceh lies at the northern tip of Sumatra and has coastlines along the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Banda Aceh. The province covers diverse landscapes, including coastal plains and highland areas in the interior, and it forms part of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island region.

Historically, Aceh was the powerful Aceh Sultanate that dominated trade in northern Sumatra in the 16th and 17th centuries. It endured a long conflict with Dutch colonial forces in the 19th and early 20th centuries and later became part of Indonesia. In 2004, a devastating tsunami hit Banda Aceh and surrounding regions, prompting international relief. In 2005, a peace agreement established a special autonomous status and recognition of local governance, including certain Sharia-inspired provisions.

The majority of residents are Acehnese, and Islam is the dominant faith. The Acehnese language is widely spoken alongside Indonesian. The culture features traditional arts such as the Saman dance and distinctive crafts. The region is renowned for coffee from the Gayo Highlands and spices that have historically attracted traders.

Economy relies on natural gas and oil from offshore fields, agriculture (notably coffee and pepper), and fisheries. Recovery and development have continued since the 2004 tsunami, with ongoing investments in infrastructure and education. Aceh maintains a special autonomy framework within Indonesia, granting local governance rights and a degree of religious-based regulation.