This exhibition aims to uncover the Dutch-Peranakan roots of Melaka

The exhibition 'Families Of Dutch Malakka' is tentatively scheduled to be held at The Stadhuys (March 6-7) and The Bendahari (March 8-14). Photo: Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah

Calling all families with Dutch ancestry to be part of a project that aims to uncover the Dutch-Peranakan roots of Melaka!

Tentatively slated for March, an exhibition titled Families Of Dutch Malakka will feature Malaysian families with such roots - showcasing family portraits and family heirlooms, old photographs and other cultural items.

“We are looking for anyone with even a smidgen of Dutch ancestry from Melaka, who are keen to talk about their heritage, share their family story with a wider audience, and hopefully also have photographs or other items to show us," says Melissa Chan, The Bendahari director, who will be putting this project together.

​The Bendahari, located in old town Melaka, is a creative and heritage arts hub. The building, comprising four pre-war shoplots, will be hosting part of the Families Of Dutch Malakka exhibition.

"We will need to spend about two to three hours with each family, interviewing them, and taking their family portrait. If the family does not mind sharing their memorabilia, we would love to either photograph that or have it on loan to be featured in the exhibition. We are hoping to interview between six to eight families - and if time permits, more - as a catalyst to uncover the Dutch-Peranakan roots of Melaka, ” she adds.

The exhibition idea came about in conjunction with Melaka Tourism and the Dutch Embassy of Malaysia, which have a yearly commemoration of the Dutch presence in Melaka.

The Dutch era in Melaka was the longest – for over 160 years – compared to 130 years of Portuguese rule, and 155 years of the British.

Chan notes that Melaka is mainly known for the Peranakan Chinese community, but there are also other Peranakan communities that have a diverse culture and heritage.

“In one of our early meetings, we questioned ‘so what did the Dutch leave behind besides their beautiful architecture?’ and Melaka-born author/researcher Dennis De Witt, who has Dutch ancestry, said candidly ‘They left behind people like me!’. So we felt this is a worthwhile exhibition to explore, to spread awareness, to spark conversation and to honour the Dutch roots and their assimilation into our land, ” says Chan.

Families Of Dutch Malakka is tentatively scheduled (dependent on the pandemic situation) to be held at The Stadhuys Melaka (March 6-7) and The Bendahari (March 8-14), as part of the Malakka Dutch Week.

De Witt will be moderating a panel discussion (titled “The Dutch Of Malakka”) that will be live streamed on March 6.

There are plans to put the exhibition online as well.

The exhibition is organised by Melaka Tourism, and other non-governmental organisation partners, including The Bendahari.

For updates on the exhibition, visit www.thebendahari.com or the official Melaka Tourism Instagram @fabulousmelaka.

If you are interested in being a part of this project, email [e-mail].