Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Suffering harrying attacks from neighbouring Johor and Negeri Sembilan, as well as
from the Islamic power of Aceh in Sumatra, Melaka declined further. The city passed into
Dutch hands after an eight-month siege in 1641. The Dutch ruled Melaka for about 150
years, during which time it again became the centre for peninsular trade, and built many
fine buildings and churches which remain the most solid suggestion of European presen-
ce.
When the French occupied Holland in 1795, the British (as allies of the Dutch) tempor-
arily assumed administration of the Dutch colonies. In 1824 Melaka was permanently
ceded to the British.
Melaka, together with Penang and Singapore, formed the Straits settlements, the three
British territories that were command posts for later expansion into the peninsula.
However, under British rule Melaka was eclipsed by other Straits settlements and then su-
perseded by the rapidly growing commercial importance of Singapore. Apart from a brief
upturn in the early 20th century when rubber was an important crop, Melaka returned
again to being a quiet backwater, patiently awaiting its renaissance as a tourist drawcard.
