Hollandse Club, Singapore

Discover the heritage of the Hollandse Club. From a once small group of Dutch men congregating for a drink, it has grown to the strong international club it is today. Let us walk you down memory lane to look at the foundations and milestones of the Club’s former days.

The Dutch community in Singapore has been around for a long time. As far back as the nineteenth century Dutch people were already working for companies here. At that time, people were sent abroad by their employer for six to eight years � which meant for many, life in Singapore had a much greater impact than it does today. Back then there was no air-conditioning to cool Western heads from the tropical heat, annual home leave was out of the question and only every four years could you leaveSingapore for a few months. Even by the early twentieth century, the decision to travel home meant choosing between a boat trip of three weeks or a very expensive flight of three days. Family and friends were rarely seen.