Stadthuys

Stadthuys is a historic building in Malacca City, Malaysia. Built in the 1640s by the Dutch after they seized Malacca from the Portuguese, it served as the official residence of the Dutch governor and the administrative center of the city. It is widely regarded as one of the oldest surviving Dutch colonial buildings in the East and remains a prominent symbol of Malacca’s colonial heritage. The complex stands in Dutch Square, opposite Christ Church, and is noted for its striking red exterior walls and white-framed windows.

Architecturally, the Stadthuys reflects Dutch colonial design with thick walls and a restrained, functional style associated with Dutch Baroque influences. The two large, three-story wings enclose a central courtyard, creating a distinctive silhouette that characterizes the historic square. The building’s preserved structure and layout offer insights into 17th-century municipal administration in Southeast Asia.

Historically, the Stadthuys functioned as the governor’s residence and the seat of municipal governance during Dutch rule. Over time, it housed various government offices and eventually became a museum complex. Today, it houses the History and Ethnography Museum (Muzium Sejarah & Etnografi), part of Melaka’s state museum system, with exhibits on the region’s history, culture, and ethnography.

The Stadthuys is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Melaka and George Town, the Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca." As a centerpiece of Dutch Square, it remains a major tourist attraction and a tangible link to Malacca’s colonial past.