Baan Hollanda takes you back to earlier times
On a sunny and hot Wednesday afternoon, Emma Kraanen visited 'Job Hollandaof Ayutthaya. On the banks of the Chao Phraya River and adjacent to a beautiful old shipyard, she found an inviting, warm orange Dutch building. The museum about Dutch-Thai relations in Thailand is a gift from Queen Beatrix to King Bhumibol.
The Dutch VOC built a settlement on this exact spot more than 400 years ago. The foundations of the old office are still visible and with a little empathy you can see the old ships, filled with adventurers, traders and fortune seekers, sailing past you. The riverbank is a unique location and the perfect place to dive into Dutch VOC history in Thailand. This is possible on the first floor of the museum.
In a short, well-arranged tour you will become acquainted with the VOC, old sea routes, the kingdom of Siam, with overseas adventures and with Joost Schouten, Jeremias van Vliet and Engelbert Kaempfer. The textual tour is enlivened with photos, maps and trinkets from the VOC era. In addition to a history lesson, the tour also gives an impression of the relationship that has emerged from more than 400 years of relations. It is a complete story that remains fascinating from the beginning to the end, partly due to the professional appearance and the neat finish.
Job Hollanda
A temporal exhibition on water management can be found on the ground floor, which is also very well-arranged and instructive. There are two beautifully painted cows and nice souvenirs for sale. And to end it all in a Dutch way, you can enjoy a real bitterbal in the modern-looking 'Dutch design' café or outside on the wooden deck. It is also a wonderful place to just enjoy a cup of coffee and look out over the river, where all those years ago our VOC ships sailed.
Baan Hollanda ensures that you are taken back to earlier times and is also a bit 'at home' in Thailand. The welcome is warm and the coffee is served with a smile. In my opinion, it lives up to all expectations of a beautiful and high-quality museum!
Submitted by Emma Kraanen
For more information: www.baanhollanda.org
Very atmospheric and extensive report of your visit to this decidedly beautiful location.
The realization that Dutch trade was already conducted here 400 years ago makes it even more interesting. A visit to Baan Hollanda is highly recommended.
Now exactly 1 year ago, I visited Baan Hollanda with my sister and Thai wife. They were still doing some renovations, including a water barrier. The museum is indeed worth a visit, but what struck us was that the textual explanation of the various pieces was in English and Thai and not in Dutch. So the visitor with little knowledge of the English language can mainly only look at pictures. We found this quite strange and that for a Dutch museum. I can also recommend everyone to visit it once, because it is worth it.
Hi Emma,
We were also there a few weeks ago, very nice and well cared for;
when we had another cup of coffee, a school class from the Internationale arrived
School. We talked to a few girls (about 10 years old) who spoke perfect English.
We continued to "Japanese Settlement" , a little further on , past
the same road, very beautiful and impressive.
Regards, Inge
and here in the Japanese museum you will also encounter the Dutch influence.
with names that there is a perfect map in the Netherlands.
both museums are worthwhile, although I think Baan Holandia really stands out.
various Dutch delicacies, bitterballen, frikandellen etc.
Henry
Read further down… So Baan Hollandia is no longer what it used to be. No treats, no souvenirs, etc
Been living in Thailand for almost 16 years, it's about time we went there, my 9 year old son is very interested in everything from NL (mostly football). Thailand blog deserves compliments on the many beautiful info about Thailand, thanks.
Is it open again then?
Unfortunately, I was faced with a closed door on November 16. There was a letter on the door stating that the Baan Hollandia Foundation will no longer manage this building as of October 22, 2017. In principle, the building should reopen in November, but then the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture will be the manager.
Unfortunately, this was not announced in advance on the website. To avoid disappointment, make sure you call in advance.
… is a gift from Queen Beatrix …
may that be replaced by: is a gift from the Dutch taxpayer
…… and not to King Bhumibol but to the inhabitants and tourists in Thailand.
Indeed, the reality in 2017 is different than outlined in the jubilant article.
I was there today (6/12/2017) and was sucked back out within 20 minutes.
No reception with coffee, but 2 Thai ladies who hardly spoke about the border and certainly knew nothing about the Netherlands. There was no coffee, no more souvenirs and no Dutch food.
Below a tiny corner about water management.
The upper floor was opened with difficulty and half in the dark we could walk along the panels. Nice, but strikingly many English texts and French attributes.
Alas, I was looking forward to it.
OOPS,
Had read more about this and now wanted to ask if anyone knows the coordinates. Hours of the trip.
The VOC has had a very big influence and would like to visit it.
Is it true that everything has plummeted over the years?
Would be a shame right?
LOUISE
I myself was there at the end of November 2018. I thought it was well worth the visit. Gives a nice picture of Dutch history in this part of Asia.
I was there in April 2018 when my Thai wife was at a conference in Ayutthaya, was the second visitor that day. Was open as usual, had to take a detour to another entrance via a sandy path at a shipyard.
Well worth it, highly recommended. All looked good.
Barry