The Stadthuys, Melaka

After so many years, this XVII century building has kept its original Dutch name (City House). It stands at the very same place where an ancient Portuguese fort was built.

It used to be the residence of the Dutch Governors and is one of the oldest Dutch colonial buildings in South East Asia.

Nowadays, the building hosts the museum of history of Malacca.

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The Dutch rules Melaka more than a decade. They were good in designing building even. The famous of all is the Stadthuys. It is the oldest Dutch building ever being build in the far east. Was build in 1650. Now, this area hosting variety of museum. Visiting this place will bring you back to those past century. And theres a unique clock tower in front of it even. A MUST VISIT PLACE FOR TOURIST. Enjoy....

The Dutch Square is famous for its red-painted buildings. It has a display of many unique Dutch mansonry and architectural skills. The Stadthuys, in the Dutch Square, was built in 1650, it is a typical Dutch building with a clock tower. It is also a historic museum and houses some interesting display of traditional bridal costumes and relics, and others. There are within the square, the Queen Victoria's fountain built in 1901 and Melaka Clock Tower built in 1886.

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No visitor will ever miss the Stadthuys - a series of red buildings and constructions on the approach to the Town Square. The colour is not the natural colour of the buildings - they have been painted thus to symbolize the red laterite used in the construction of many buildings in Malacca.

Work on this massive town hall started soon after the Dutch wrested Malacca from the Portuguese in 1641. Finished in 1661, it is believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the East.

The long wing of warehouses is supposed to be the oldest of the lot. Although Stadthuys is Dutch, recent construction work done there have unearthed evidence that it used to be a Portuguese settlement before the Dutch took over. They have found what remains of a Portuguese well and drainage system.

With its heavy solid doors and louver windows, Stadthuys presents a pretty picture of typical 17th century Dutch architecture. Inside there is wide staircase.

High windows line its walls and if you peep out of the back windows, you will catch a glimpse of some old houses in the courtyard, whitewashed but mouldy, and looking as though they were a painting done by Vermeer.

Being typically Dutch, these municipal buildings were built with one thought in mind - to keep out the cold of winter. Therefore, you can imagine how sweltering hot it must have been in those times it was used as Town Hall throughout the Dutch and British administration, especially without the fans and air-conditioning of our time.

The other buildings surrounding the Stadthuys, like the clock tower, are also in the same bright red colour. Today, Stadthuys is home to three museums - the History Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Literature Museum.

Stadthuys and the three museums are opened to the public everyday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. except on Fridays when they close from 12.15 p.m. until 2.45 p.m. for lunch and prayers. Visitors are allowed to wander to their hearts

The Stadthuys ( Old Dutch for City Hall ) was built in 1650 as the official residence for the Dutch Governors. It's a good example of the Dutch architecture 350 years ago. Inside you will find a museum with relics from Melaka's past. Outside the Stadthuys on the Dutch Square you will find small souvenier shops for the tourists. All the shops sell the same rubbish as there neighbours.

Once the official residence of the Dutch Governors and officers, it has now become the historical building for the Museum of History and Ethnography. On a daily basis, you can enjoy the display of traditional bridal costumes and relics from Melaka's ancient times. The Stadthuys is located along Jalan Gereja.

Right opposite of the Stadthuys is Meleka Tourist Information Centre (Tel: 606-2814803). Get yourself a map of Melaka and some leaflets. Maps are available in other languages too, like Dutch & Portugese. Don't get the wrong one. There are some card-like leaflets which are great for souvenirs or as bookmarks. Collect them all. At the main entrance is a perfect point to capture The Stadthuys and Christ Church.

Just adjacent to the Tourist Information Centre is a souvenir and handicraft shop. They are of good quality threfore the price is a bit on the high side.

This is the most popular tourist attraction in Melaka. If you would like to visit the few nearby attractions, simply hop on to one of the trishaw here. RM5 per ride.

If you are lucky, sometimes you can see a hawker selling the famous cendol at the Clock Tower. This is a must try local sweet delicacy.

Beside the Museum of History and Ethnography, you can walk up the slope to the ruins of St. Paul's Church, The Dutch Graveyard and A' Famosa. On the way after some steps, stop by to have a bird's eye view on Melaka. You can spot the Maritime Museum, constructed after "Flor De La Mar", the Portugese galleon.

Stadthuys, the red 3-storey building at the center of Dutch Square, was built in 1650 as the official residence of Dutch governors.

Presently, it houses the History and Ethnography Museum where artifacts from Melaka's colonial past are on display. A fee of RM10 is charged and the museum is closed on Monday.

It is actually a museum. Think of the entrance fee as a 3-in-1. Actually the museums are integrated. Visiting the Stadthuys means you can visit the Governors Museum and Democratic Museum as well as the Admiral Cheng Ho exhibit.

The exhibits in the Stadthuys are more history oriented and shows many historical and cultural aspects of Melaka.

The place is old and if they do anymore digging, they might unearth more artefacts!