Photo Gallery

Side entrance to Christ Church in Malacca, Malaysia. The city was once known as the ‘world's largest port’. Completed in 1753, the church is a beautiful example of Dutch sacred architecture and was inaugurated to mark the centenary of the colonisation of the country. Above the altar is a magnificent Last Supper frieze made of colourful glazed tiles. The roof beams were each made from a single tree trunk. Founded in 1403 by Parameswara, the prince of Sumatra, the city of Malacca is located at a river mouth that forms a safe harbour. In 1511, the Portuguese conquered the city and made it an important stop on the spice route. In 1641, they were driven out by the Dutch, who now controlled the entire region. The last colonists to arrive were the English, who completed their conquest of the Malay Peninsula in 1824. – 1990

The picture shows a street scene in Colombo, on Wolfendhal Street in Pettah in 1990. The façade of the damaged Abdeen building can be seen. On the ground floor are small shops such as Lanka Stores. A typical tuk-tuk can be seen on the street. Next to the shops is the Christian St. Paul's Chapel. - 1990

Relief on the Wolvendaal Church in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which is an important historical landmark from the Dutch colonial period (built 1749-1757). It is located in the Pettah district and is one of the best-preserved Dutch Reformation buildings in the region, known for its architecture and surrounding neighbourhood. This is the coat of arms of the van Rhee family, which is found on one of the gravestones or epitaphs inside the church. It belongs to Thomas van Rhee, who was the Dutch governor of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1692 to 1697. – Photo 1990