The Stadthuys (an old Dutch

spelling Spelling is a set of conventions for written language regarding how graphemes should correspond to the sounds of spoken language. Spelling is one of the elements of orthography, and highly standardized spelling is a prescriptive element. Spelli ...

, meaning

city hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or municipal hall (in the Philippines) is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses the city o ...

) is a historical structure situated in the heart of Malacca City, the administrative capital of the state of Malacca,

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

, in a place known as the Red Square. The Stadthuys is known for its red exterior and nearby red clocktower. It was built by the Dutch in 1650 as the office of the Dutch governor and deputy governor. It continued to be used as the Treasury, Post Office, Government Offices, and suites of apartments for the high officials after the takeover by the British. When Malacca was handed over to the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

in the 19th century, the Malacca Free School was opened in the vicinity of the Stadthuys on 7 December 1826, by missionaries residing in the state, in response to a letter dated 19 April 1825, signed by a J. Humprey, J. W. Overee and A. W. Baumgarten, which called for an English educational institution to be built in Malacca. The school which the British provided

free education Free education is education funded through government spending or charitable organizations rather than tuition funding. Primary school and other comprehensive or compulsory education is free in most countries (often not including primary textboo ...

to residents was eventually renamed Malacca High School in 1871 upon a takeover by the British government, and moved out to its present site at Chan Koon Cheng Road in 1931. Situated at Laksamana Road, beside Christ Church, the supposed oldest remaining Dutch historical building in the Orient, is now home to the History and Ethnography Museum. Among the displays in the museum are traditional costumes and artifacts throughout the history of Malacca. File:Stadhuys Malaka 1986.jpg, Stadhuys in 1986 with the Malacca Museum nearby File:Malacca.jpg, Roundabout surrounding the frontage of the Stadthuys

References

External links

Tourism Malaysia - Stadthuys

The Stadthuys of Malacca
Holland Focus
Dutch Square (The Stadthuys)
AmazingMelaka.com
Video: 5 short clips of Melaka Stadthuys square
{{Museums of Malaysia Buildings and structures in Malacca City Museums in Malacca Seats of local government Viceregal residences Dutch colonial architecture Dutch colonization in Asia Buildings and structures completed in 1650 Former properties of the Dutch East India Company 1650 establishments in the Dutch Empire Buildings and structures associated with the Dutch East India Company

See also

References

External links