Dutch Harbour Café – Melaka

 

I have had the privilege to enjoy a delicious, sumptuous and meaningful lunch at the Dutch Harbour Café situated at 39, Jalan Laksamana 75100 Melaka http://www.dutchharbourcafe.com email: info@dutchharbourcafe.com I was presently surprise to see almost everything going Dutch culturally the very moment I enter the said premise.

 

A prominent signboard was displayed at the five-foot walkways with Dutch Foods delicacies and drinks. Inside dining sets were positioned romantically with little bouquet of flowers in the middle of the table. The main facing was two clocks; one with Malaysian time of 1.10pm and the other showing 7.10am Holland in the morning (correct me if I am wrong!).Another notable seen was the bunting of Holland Days in Melaka hanging high up readily visible to all. In the middle was a smiling Dutch Lady ( immediately reminded me of the DUTCH LADY infant nutrients in Malaysia ) greeting with colourful tulips and fresh vegetables.

 

I choose to sit in front of the serving ‘kitchen’ where a courteous waiter name Amy and a sweet fair lady Melissa came to my rescue; as I am alien to Dutch servings. I was referred to try out Chicken Croquette ( RM 7.00 )and a Cuban Perrier ( RM 9.00 ); although I couldn’t pronounce them! Though I must say the Chicken Croquette looked too small a plate for my appetite; it certainly tasted delicious. The Cuban Perrier is a mixture of sweet, sour and bitter drink before being stirred. The little umbrella over the drink was indeed in resonance to the hugh umbrella I was shield under. I was left with no more choice but to try another as my stomach was yarning for more ; so I tried the Chess Croissant ( RM 6.00 ) or else I would ‘die’ of hunger by tea break which I hardly leave the Maritime Archaeology Museum www.maritime.emalacca.com .

 

That it, I have had a sumptuous Dutch meal today. It was price reasonably and I would highly recommend to all visitors to Melaka to try them out. I was told that they open daily from 9.00am to 1.00am the following morning. Before I forget, the rear of this café is the ever historic and nostalgic Melaka River; where one or gang could spent the evening drinking beers till night fall…….

 

Although the Melaka River will continue to flow effortlessly, be it upstream during high tide or vise versa; our beers shall continue to flow towards building better acquaintance and friendship for better days ahead and luck in whatever we endeavor in.

 

 

Holland Days in Malacca , – 2 to 9th Sept. 2007, Melaka.

 

Dutch Heritage Melaka

The first relations between Malaysia and the Netherlands date back about 400 years ago when Admiral Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge of the Dutch East Indies Company ( V.O.C.) signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johor reconquer Melaka.

 

This eventually bore fruit in 1641, after which the VOC established a trading post in Melaka with the agreement of the Sultan. This marks a period of co-operation during which Malaysia and the Netherlands influence and benefited from each other. This is clearly visible in the centre of town with the Stadthuys and Christ Church. At the Dutch Graveyard one can find gravestones with names as Theodorus Hebbers and Hendrik Evertsen. You will also fine the Dutch heritage in Kampung Belanda, with street name as Jonker Street ( Jalan Hang Jebat ) and Heeren Street ( Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lok ). There are still Dutch descendents living in Malaysia, the Dutch Eurasian Community, carrying Dutch surnames such as Westerhout. Even some Malaysian words derive from Dutch language such as duit ( money ). Beside a British interregnum from 1795 to 1818, Melaka remained in hands of the Dutch until 1824, when they surrendered Melaka to the British in exchange for the Sumatra port of Bencoolen ( Benkulu).

 

Activities

 

Saturday 1 –Sunday 9 September

‘The Dutch Market’

Weekdays from 09.00am to 07.00pm

Weekends ( Fri, Sat, Sun ) from 09.00am to 09.00pm

Venue: Dutch Square

Featured: ING Delft Blue Painter, Flowerbooth, Dutch Snacks Booth, Photoshoot Dutch

Costumes, Tradewind Treasures, Presentation Dutch Folklore costumes,

presentation Rembrandt etc.

Thursday 6 September

Lecture Ar John Koh on the Old Melaka Fort

Time: 04.00 -05.00pm

Venue: Melaka Historic Museum, Dutch Square, Jalan Kota.

Architect John Koh has written an article on this subject in the Buletin Warisan,

Apr-June 2007.

 

Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 Sept September

Cooking lessons from Celine Marbeck

Time: 03.00 – 06.00pm ( both days )

Venue: Quayside Café & Seafood Restaurant, No 4, Quayside Heritage Centre ( both days ) Tel: 06 281 6958

As a, from Dutch originated, Malaysian-Eurasian chef, Celine Marbeck presented cooking demonstrations on a Malaysian TV Channel and presented Master Classes in Eurasian Cooking at the International Gourmand Awards held in Kuala Lumpur 2006.

 

Saturday 8 – 9 September

Concert ‘ Kleintje Pils’

Time: 03.00pm -04.00pm ( both days )

Venue: Dutch Square ( both days )

Time: 08.30 -09.30pm ( both days )

Venue: Jonkerstreet ( both days )

Kleintje Pils plays joyful, catchy music, mainly Dixieland Jazz and Dutch classics.

 

Exhibition

 

Exhibition Dutch East India Company ( VOC )

1 – 30 September Venue: Melaka Conservation Centre, Jalan Laksamana

 

Exhibition Dutch East India Company coins ( VOC Coins )

1 – 30 September Venue: Melaka Conservation Centre, Jalan Laksamana

 

Exhibition Sketchbook Malacca

1 – 30 September Venue: Melaka Conservation Centre, Jalan Laksamana

 

Exhibition EU Herd of Cows

2 – 9 September Venue: Different locations in Melaka

 

 

Food

During the “ Holland Days in Melaka” several food and beverage outlets in Melaka will serve automatic Dutch food and snacks.

 

The Windmill Station (1)

“We make Great Western Food affordable & enjoyable for Everyone.”

No 48 & 50, Jalan Melaka Raya

For reservation/enquiries: 06 285 0145 website: www.the-windmill-station.com

 

The Windmill Station (2)

Ground Floor ( G33), Jaya Jusco Shopping Complex

For reservation/enquiries: 06 233 1145 website: www.the-windmill-station.com

 

Dutch Harbour Café

A fusion of Westeern and South East Asian Cuisine. A New Food Sensation comes to Melaka

No. 39, Jalan Laksamana

For reservation/enquiries: 06 283 7606 website: www.dutchharbourcafe.com

Thinking about Netherlands or Holland as it is popularly known, people think mainly about a friendly country with windmills and tulips. Well-known Dutch icons are football player Van Nistelrooij and famous artist Van Gogh. But there is much more!

 

This is the reason why the Netherlands embassy is working together with Dutch companies and organizations in Malaysia and Dutch related companies to promote the Netherlands and Dutch products. The celebration of 50 years of Malaysia and 50 years of Netherlands-Malaysia diplomatic relations in 2007 offers a golden opportunity not to be missed in this context. The motto ‘Holland, More than tulips’ has been chosen for this year’s campaign. Activities will be organized during the whole year throughout the whole country.

 

Of course Melaka is prominently featured! Melaka played a vital role for the Netherlands as major trade hub for the Dutch East India Company for nearly 200 years between 1642 and 1824. Many of the most visible buildings, such as the Stadthuys ( townhall in Dutch ) or the Christ Church, are build by the Dutch.

 

To revive this history and build a bridge to present days, the town will ‘turn orange’ between 2 and 9 September 2007. Featured will be a Dutch Market where typical Dutch specialties will be sold; exhibitions on the VOC will be held; Dutch traditional costumes will be shown; restaurants will be offering Dutch specialties; cooking demonstrations will be organized; and lots more!

 

The ‘Holland Days in Melaka is supported by ING Insurance, TNT, MISC, Dutch Lady and Douwe Egbert.

 

 

 

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