The Old Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct in Colombo marks a monumental occasion as it celebrates its ninth anniversary recently. Following its transformation to a famed shopping complex in 2011, the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct is home to some of the most famous restaurants, spas and shopping experiences in the city; currently housing four restaurants: Ministry of Crab, IkoiTei, Colombo Fort Café, Heladiv Tea Club; one Pub: Taphouse by R&R; two Spas: Spa Ceylon and Nature’s Secrets, and three Shops:Odel (Luv SL), Barefoot and Colombo Jewellery Stores.
An iconic tourist attraction in Colombo, the Old Dutch Hospital is a mark of Colombo’s modernism as well as the country’s rich history. Its central location in the heart of the city has long made it a hotspot for both tourists and locals alike.The project to renovate and restore the colonial hospice took place under the supervision of the Urban Development Authority, in collaboration with The Tourist Development Authority, as part of the Colombo Development Program. In creating the Dutch Hospital as seen now, modern amenities were added, all the while preserving the original architectural features
As the hospitality industry has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the globe, the tenants of the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct have too, faced their share of hardships. The airport closure was a major blow as it completely stalled the footfall of tourists, followed by two lockdowns which resulted in temporary closures of the Dutch Hospital. As the Christmas season approaches, the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct will be open with strict health and safety guidelines aligned to directives of the government and public health officials. The tenants have implemented comprehensive health and safety programmes for their respective outlets to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their customers and their staff.
While the celebrations this year may be muted, the tenants still carry hope for the future, “While 2020 may have been a challenging year, we are committed to standing strong together and bringing our guests the best that the Dutch Hospital has to offer this season, we thank all our customers who have supported us in many ways throughout the year, we wouldn’t be where we are today without you”
