Dutch Square was developed during the Dutch occupation of Melaka (1641–1824) to serve as the administrative and religious center of the colony. While the Portuguese originally built their fortifications here, the Dutch replaced them with more permanent masonry structures like the Stadthuys (completed in 1650). Interestingly, the buildings were not always red; they were originally painted white. The British later painted them salmon-red in the early 20th century, reportedly to reduce maintenance costs or to cover stains caused by the red laterite dust from the local soil. Today, the square is a physical timeline of Melaka’s colonial history, featuring Dutch architecture, a British fountain, and a clock tower donated by a wealthy Chinese family.