DUTCH MUSEUM

This large and beautiful two-story building, reflecting the architectural features of a 17th century Dutch house, was built by Thomas Van Rhee, who was the governor of Dutch Ceylon from 1692 to 1697, as his official residence. Under the Dutch presence, the place then housed a normal school and an institute for the instruction of ecclesiastics between 1696 and 1796, and later served as a hospital and orphanage. At the end of the 18th century, during the British occupation, the place was used in turn as an armory of the military hospital, a police station, and the main post of Pettah. Left to decay and wear and tear, the outer walls of the structure partially collapsed in 1971. There was talk of razing the building, but many voices were raised against this project. Renovation work began in 1977 with the help of the Dutch government and was completed in 1981. The Dutch Museum opened the following year. The building was renovated again in 2020.

A visit to the museum is worthwhile both for the splendid building, which contrasts sharply with the modern stores around it, and for the collection on display, which traces the Dutch colonial presence in Sri Lanka. Among the many objects and furniture on display (more than 3,000) are old photos, glassware, crockery, weapons and coins. The inner courtyard has a beautiful garden.