Old Dutch Hospital
A 17th-century Dutch-era building in Colombo Fort, restored and reopened in 2011 as a courtyard of restaurants, bars and shops.
What the Old Dutch Hospital actually is
The Old Dutch Hospital is a Dutch colonial building in Colombo Fort, built in the 17th century to treat staff and sailors of the Dutch East India Company. Sources differ on the exact year: some give 1669, others say it is known to have existed by 1681. It is often described as the oldest surviving building in the Fort area, and as the only Dutch hospital still standing in Sri Lanka.
It has been through plenty since: apothecary, army mess, Fort police station, and damage from the 1996 Central Bank bombing. After restoration it reopened in December 2011 as a government-backed shopping and dining precinct. The layout is five wings around two courtyards, with thick walls, big teak beams and verandas on each wing.
As an attraction it is modest: you come to eat or drink in an old building, not to visit a museum. That is what it does well. It is also an easy place to start or end an evening, with Galle Face Green a short distance away.
Worth your attention
The courtyards
Five wings enclose two courtyards, with low tiled eaves and verandas. Walk the lot before you choose where to sit.
Dutch-era construction
Thick walls and heavy teak beams survive. Ask staff where original timber and masonry are visible rather than assuming everything is new.
Canal Row
A canal once ran along what is now Canal Row, until the British filled it in. The line of the old edge is still readable on the ground.
The evening scene
Restaurants, a tea shop, bars and a spa share the precinct. Live music turns up in the courtyard on some evenings.
Before you go
Do this
- Treat it as dinner or a drink rather than a sightseeing stop
- Book a table at a popular restaurant for a weekend evening
- Walk the whole precinct first, including the verandas and both courtyards
- Combine it with a sunset at Galle Face Green and a walk through the Fort
- Go in daylight once if you want to see the building rather than the lighting
Know this first
- It is a commercial precinct; the history is on a few boards, not a museum
- Dates for the building vary by source, so be wary of any guide that states one year with certainty
- Fort is a security-conscious area and quiet outside trading hours; expect checks near some buildings
- Menus and tenants change, so do not plan around one restaurant's name
Getting to Old Dutch Hospital
Most people see Old Dutch Hospital as part of a stay around Colombo. Our Colombo guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.
Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Colombo — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.
Read the full Colombo guideFrom Colombo Airport
Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.
Old Dutch Hospital — frequently asked
What is the Old Dutch Hospital?
A Dutch-era building in Colombo Fort, built in the 17th century as a hospital for Dutch East India Company staff and sailors. It is now a precinct of restaurants, bars and shops.
Is it open to the public?
Yes. It is a shopping and dining precinct, so you can walk in; individual venues set their own hours.
How old is it?
17th century, Dutch period. Sources give different years, including 1669 and 'by 1681', so treat any single date with caution.
Is it worth a special trip?
Not on its own. It is worth including if you are already in Fort and want a meal in an old building.
Also worth stopping for around Colombo
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