The oldest surviving Dutch building in the fort, now a museum of southern Sri Lankan history and crafts.

Overview

The National Museum of Galle occupies a single-storey colonnaded Dutch mansion, the oldest remaining Dutch building inside the fort. Its collection spans traditional masks, lace-making and pillow lace, religious artefacts and items reflecting the cultural interaction between colonial Europe and the south of the island. It is a quiet, compact stop that adds context to a fort visit.

History

The building was erected in 1656 as a Dutch commissariat store; after restoration by the Department of National Museums it opened to the public as a museum on 31 March 1986.