A Brief History Of Holland Village, Singapore
These days, the main area of Holland Village in Singapore is synonymous with wine bars, trendy restaurants and creative cafés popular with the expat crowd. While the area has always catered towards expat families, more recently it has become popular with young Singaporean locals as well.
Holland Village, conveniently located in the center of the city, was first established as a Dutch community; originally founded in the early 1900s, this neighborhood in the Bukit Timah region of Singapore was used for plantation estates. The neighborhood was named after Hugh Holland, an architect and amateur actor who lived in the area.
Eventually in the 1950s and 1960s, the neighborhood community began to change and most of the houses in the area, now known as Chip Bee Gardens, became home to members of the British army and their families. With Holland Village located near Orchard Road and Tanglin Road (other popular neighborhoods with expat families), the shops and services in the Village were initially established to meet the needs of foreign families.
As developers saw the potential of the estate, they built colonial bungalows and other detached homes for these families while shop proprietors established stores that met the specialised needs of the expat clientele. This proximity to the city and establishment of specific services is what led to Holland Village becoming what it is today; a social haven for expats who live in the area.
To this day, signs of European influence can be seen in Holland Village. The most obvious is the giant windmill that sits on top of the Holland V Shopping Mall, as well as a smaller windmill marking the front of the Holland Village Market and Food Centre. The neighborhood further retains its European charm with an array of cafes and on the weekends situated on the main street, Lorong Mambong, which is closed to vehicle traffic allowing restaurants to set up large, sociable, al fresco eating and drinking spaces.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
Read Next
See & Do
Singaporeans Share What They Love About Singapore
See & Do
5 Awesome Islands To Visit Near Singapore (That Aren’t Part of It)
Places to Stay
Hip Apartments in Singapore You'll Want to Call Home
Places to Stay
Where to Stay in Singapore for a Local Experience
Music
Meet the Stars of Singapore's Explosive Hip-Hop Scene
Restaurants
The 10 Best Brunch Spots in Orchard Road, Singapore
Guides & Tips
This Surprising Asian City Is One of the Food Capitals of the World
Places to Stay
The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in Singapore
See & Do
How Passion Transformed Singapore Into One of the Most Futuristic Cities on Earth
See & Do
The Best Experiences Made In Singapore
Sports
The Best Swimming Pools in Singapore
What's On
Could Singapore’s ‘Flights to Nowhere’ Get the Travel Industry Moving Again?
Culture Trip Spring Sale
Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.
- Post ID: 799311
- Sponsored? No
- View Payload