Dutch Reformed Church

We are lucky to watch a weeding in this church. It was raining and we took shelter here. I don’t know the proper history of this church but it’s must be from Dutch era . There is also some grave in this church. Dont miss this beautiful church if you’re visiting Galle fort.

A quiet, very “Galle Fort” kind of place — not flashy, but full of atmosphere if you like history that feels real. The Dutch Reformed Church (Groote Kerk) is one of those buildings that reminds you how layered this fort really is. It was completed in 1755 by the Dutch, built on the site of an earlier Portuguese church, so even the ground beneath it feels like a timeline. Inside, the space is calm and restrained: plain walls, a high ceiling, and that Protestant simplicity which contrasts strongly with the tropical heat outside. What stays with you are the old memorial slabs and inscriptions — names, dates, ranks, families. You don’t need deep historical knowledge to feel it; it works more like a quiet archive made of stone. It’s worth visiting not for visual spectacle, but for the atmosphere: a cool pause during a walk through the fort, and a reminder that Galle was not just a picturesque town, but a strategic port and a key point in colonial maritime history.

5/5 – Iconic Historical Church in Galle Fort The Dutch Reformed Church in Galle is one of the oldest and most iconic landmarks inside the Galle Fort. You can simply walk inside and look around freely, and it really feels like stepping back in time. The architecture is beautiful and still preserves the colonial Dutch style. One of the unique things you’ll notice is that the floor is lined with old tombstones, which makes it both historic and a little unusual compared to other churches. It doesn’t take long to explore – around 10 to 15 minutes is enough to walk through, admire the details, and take a few photos. Still, it’s absolutely worth visiting as part of your Galle Fort tour because it highlights the history and culture of this coastal city. If you’re in Galle, don’t miss this stop – it’s quiet, peaceful, and full of stories from the past.

This is one of the oldest buildings in the Galle Fort. Iconic church. Admission is free of charge. This is like a museum as everything in here seems to have a great historical value. A must see if you are in Galle fort. Highly recommended.

We were impressed to find an old reformed church here, as we were not ecpecting to survive next colonial period. It really worth to visit. Watch your steps: you will see tombstones!

This is a very old dutch church. You can just walk inside and look around. There was a lady inside who was cleaning the place. When i ask about quatations she explain in a friendly way. There are tombstones on the floor.

One of the iconic tourism location in Galle. This church highlights Galle's history with architecture of past times. Will take between 10 mins - 15 mins to cover the church. Nice photo location to keep memories of visiting galle, Sri Lanka.

Really great church to check out, amazing stained glass windows and these metal flooring carvings that looked amazing, outside they had stairs leading down beneath the ground that you can’t get down to, but do look awesome. A lot of tombstones on the property.