The Old Dutch Hospital is a long, low, tile-roofed building in Colombo Fort, built by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century. Today it is a courtyard of restaurants, cafés and shops. You can walk in, look at the thick walls and teak beams, and stop for lunch or a drink.
Is it worth visiting?
Go if you want to see one of the oldest surviving Dutch-era buildings in Colombo, or you need a shaded place to eat in Fort. The courtyards are quiet compared with the streets outside, and the building is more interesting than most shopping precincts.
Think twice if you want a museum. There are no displays or guided history inside, so what you get is the architecture and the setting. The shops and restaurants are the main business here.
What the building is
The Dutch took Colombo from the Portuguese in 1656. They used this building to treat the officers, staff and sailors of the Dutch East India Company. The Urban Development Authority (UDA), which now manages the site, says the hospital is believed to have existed since 1681. Sources give earlier dates too, but they disagree, so we only say 17th century.
The design suits the climate. Five wings enclose two courtyards, long verandas run along each wing, and the walls are about half a metre thick. The Sunday Times adds that the roof rests on teak beams and that windows and doors line up to let air through. Wikipedia mentions that Paul Hermann, a Dutch surgeon and botanist, worked here in the 1670s and named Sri Lankan plants.
After the Dutch
The British kept it as a hospital after they took over in 1796, and later it housed offices. After independence it held the Colombo Apothecaries. From the early 1980s to the 1990s it was the Colombo Fort police station. The building was damaged after the 1996 Central Bank bombing and then stood neglected for some years. The UDA turned it into a shopping and dining precinct in 2011, and the restoration preserved its historic architecture.
Eating and shopping
The UDA’s page for the precinct lists shops, restaurants, cafés and a spa. It names Burger King, Harpos Café and Black Pepper among the outlets. Visitor guides also name Colombo Fort Café, Heladiv Tea Club and Ministry of Crab. Tenants change often, so check a venue before you plan a meal around it.
- Hours: the UDA lists the precinct as open daily, 10 am to 10 pm. Individual restaurants keep their own hours, and visitor guides say most open around 11 am.
- Entry: the UDA page lists no admission charge. It does list hourly fees for commercial shoots and wedding photography, so keep that in mind if you bring a photographer.
- Where: the UDA gives the address as Hospital Street, Colombo Fort.
- Heat: the courtyards are open to the sky. Late afternoon and evening are the more comfortable times to sit outside. Visitors report live music in the courtyard on some evenings.
Pettah lies next to Fort, so it is easy to pair the two. Pettah Market makes a lively contrast to these quiet courtyards. Galle Face Green is the usual sunset stop after a late lunch here. For the wider picture of the city, see our Colombo guide.
The striped Red Mosque stands in nearby Pettah.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the Old Dutch Hospital in Colombo?
A 17th-century building in Colombo Fort, built by the Dutch East India Company as a hospital. Since 2011 it has been a shopping and dining precinct.
Is the Old Dutch Hospital free to enter?
The UDA’s page for the precinct lists no admission charge, so you can walk through the courtyards. You pay only for what you buy.
What are the opening hours?
The UDA lists the precinct as open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. Restaurants and shops set their own hours.
How old is the Dutch Hospital?
The UDA says it is believed to have existed since 1681. Sources disagree on an exact date, so it is best described as a 17th-century building.
Who restored it?
The UDA turned it into a shopping and dining precinct in 2011.
Header photo: Kanatonian / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
