Going Dutch

Tan Hee Hui ,  CONTRIBUTOR   |  Sun, 06/28/2009 11:34 AM  |  Supplement

Exploring historical Malacca reveals numerous surprises, and you'll surely be fascinated to learn about the state's history and legacies. Malacca has been colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British, whose cultures have left imprints on the state, and also the rest of Malaysia.

When visiting Malacca, you must go on a walking tour along the twokilometer Dutch heritage trail, showcasing the remnants of old buildings and more.

The journey starts from a Malacca tree on Jl. Bandar Hilir and then heads to A'Famosa, an old Portuguese fort that was used by the Dutch as their main fortress after they conquered Malacca in 1641.

From there, head to the excavation of fortifi cations in front of Bastion House on Jl. Kota. The walk then leads to the old Malacca Museum, which is now the Stamp Museum. The building was occupied by the Westerhout family for 300 years until 1930, before being turned into the state's fi rst museum after Malaysia's independence.

Another highlight is the current Museum and Antiquities Department building built by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to house its offi cials in the golden Malacca era. Near this museum lies the Architecture Museum, which has typical Dutch architectural infl uences. You can easily spot the latter as it's located opposite the old Malacca police headquarters on Jl. Kota, which was built in the 18th century and served as the residence of senior VOC officials.

The Middlesburg excavation, near the Malacca riverbank, was once a Dutch watchtower built in 1660 and used to protect the old quay.

Moving on, check out the grand red Stadthuys building, built between 1641 and 1656. Stadthuys was formerly the Dutch governor's official residence and is now a museum. Make sure to check out the museum's souvenir store, which sells authentic relics found along the Malacca River, such as old coins. Depending on the coins' rarity, some pieces can be bought at affordable prices.

Next to Stadthuys is the Christ Church, which was built in 1753 to commemorate the fi rst centenary of the Dutch's presence in Malacca. Near the church is the Dutch graveyard, where gravestones bearing Dutch names such as Koek, Theodorus Hebbers and Hendrick Evertsen can be found. The trail's fi nal destination is the ruins of St Paul's church on top of a hill. Although built by the Portuguese as a place of worship, the church was used by the Dutch for other purposes.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.