Most of the history enthusiasts know that Sri Lanka, which was also known as "Ceylon" back then has been captured by three foreign countries in the past.The Portuguese (1505-1656), the Dutch (1656-1796), and the British (1796-1948). Not only they used Sri Lanka's resources, but they also left behind technology and pieces of contemporary art. The Dutch Hospital is one of those eye-catching pieces of art left behind in Sri Lanka by them. It is situated in the heart of Colombo city which is Fort, also knows as Colombo 01. It's just next to the massive twin towers - The World Trade Center Colombo and the atmosphere around the complex are overwhelming. With a simple design with five wings, four of which are joined to form a square with a courtyard in the center and the fifth wing constitutes the facade of the building and is situated in front of the square with a second courtyard intervening.
With the high skyscrapers surrounding the building, it's safe to say that the best time to pay a visit to The Dutch Hospital is at night. As you walk into the complex, you will see dozens on lights drooling down from the walls on the sides and depending on the season you're visiting, tiny rice bulbs wrapped around poles and trees nearby. You can effortlessly spend 3-4 hours here with the soothing music to support your vibe.
This place houses a variety shops to match your needs and as for examples, you can find Ministry of Crab if you want seafood, Taphouse if you want to eat European, Semondu if you want to eat Italian and many more! As a roundup, you can get all Thai, American, European, Japanese, Mediterranean and other cuisines here itself! (I will be reviewing all of the above mentioned restaurants soon, please subscribe to stay tuned). If you're searching for a shop to take souvenir home, there's a place for that in this complex too... Step into the Luv SL store which is at the Dutch Hospital complex and you will find many items such as clothing items, stationery, make-up items and an extensive collection of elephant souvenirs! Finally, in my opinion, I personally think that this is a great place which has a rich surrounding for tourists who would like to visit the heart of Colombo and I'm sure that you will love the atmosphere at night. And hands down, this is the best place to dine at night if you're in Colombo 01.
