"The Dutch Colony" Galle by alycat

Bylanes of Fort Galle

The place I wanted to be before I started my Lanka tour, the place which always brought to mind the cricket matches with the majestic fort in the background, and the place which lost close to 70,000 of its residents in the Tsunami.

The Dutch now are a peaceful, contented nation known for their liberal ways and easy-going lifestyle. Who could believe that here is a nation that three centuries ago sailed the seas of the world in search of land and riches, slaves and spices, not to mention converts to their puritan brand of Christianity. Galle is in short a mini Dutch town to date, where the architecture leaves a lasting impression on the travelers that touch this fortified city. Dutch period buildings still survive in Galle bearing ample testimony to the fine tastes and aesthetic sense of the Hollander. Many of these buildings were evidently designed after the manner of the townhouses of metropolitan Holland which served to remind the Dutch colonialists of their beloved motherland.

Some of the finest specimens of Dutch architecture in the island are to be seen in the Fort area of Galle. Besides the old style Dutch residential houses, Galle also boasts of De Groote Kerk 'the Great Church', an old museum that houses antiques from the bygone era, cutlery, armoury, and much much more..