Attraction

Galle Dutch Hospital

The Old Dutch Hospital – sometimes referred to as the Old Galle Dutch Hospital – is one of the most notable and fascinating buildings found within the famous Galle Fort. It is often considered to be among the oldest buildings to have been constructed in the fort as well as one of the most well preserved.

Originally, the building was used as a hospital by the Dutch. Its primary function was to look after the health and wellbeing of officers serving under the Dutch East India Company. This was one of the primary reasons that the hospital was built so close to the sea, as it allowed sailors and seafarers to quickly be moved into the hospital after long voyages.

One of the most striking features about the Old Dutch Hospital that is visible even now is its unique architecture. The design and structure of the building reflect popular trends seen in other 17th-century Dutch colonial construction works. Additionally, the building was designed to deal with the high temperatures and humidity levels that weren’t uncommon in the region. This meant large open section and long verandas to maintain a good level of air circulation.

Now, the purpose of the Dutch Hospital did change quite a few times as the decades rolled on. In fact, the site was based around a mint that the Portuguese had built when they were in control of the Galle Fort. This trend of colonial rulers changing the purpose of the building would continue once the British took over as well. They transformed the hospital into a barracks to house their troops and weaponry. Following their subjugation of the island, The British would then turn the building into the Office of the Government Agent. This essentially turned it into the residence of the chief administrator of the district up until Sri Lanka was granted independence in 1948. In recent years, the Sri Lankan government has converted the hospital into a shopping precinct – it’s a great place to have some food or pick up a souvenir while exploring the rest of the fort.

From Colombo
147 km via Southern Expy/E01
Time Duration
2 h 9 min
Entrance Ticket
No

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