Stadthuys, Dutch colonial architecture in Melaka, Malaysia
The Stadthuys is a town hall and national historic building in the center of Melaka, Malaysia. The red exterior walls and heavy wooden doors define the appearance of this colonial administrative building, which now houses a museum.
The Dutch colonial administration erected the building around 1650 as the seat of the governor. After the British takeover, the house continued to serve as an administrative center and hosted different government departments into the 20th century.
The building carries its Dutch name to this day and the characteristic red color has become a symbol for the city. Visitors find a museum inside that shows Melaka's cultural development through objects from several centuries.
The museum opens daily from 9 AM to 5 PM and offers guided tours in several languages. The ground floor rooms are wheelchair accessible, while the upper floors are reached by stairs.
The thick walls date back to the 17th century and were built with tropical hardwoods and bricks from Europe. This construction combines Dutch techniques with materials from Asia and represents a rare adaptation of European architecture to the climate of Southeast Asia.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
