"After lunch we visited an old Portuguese merchant ship and we walked past the old sultanate towards the Dutch cemetery and church, meanwhile telling with Asyrul. We told him about the history of the VOC and he told us about the history of Melaka. Especially at the church, tombstones with Dutch inscriptions could still be discovered. At the church we have bought a nice pen drawing by Melaka, in keeping with the art that we have already purchased during other long journeys. During the two-hour journey home, Asyrul bought some native fruit for us along the way, which we ate with taste."
The Maritime Museum itself is a replica of the 'Flora de La
Mar', a Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Melaka while on its way
to Portugal, carrying loot plundered from Melaka. The ship measures 34
meters high, 36 meter long dan 8 meter wide. The museum highlights
Melaka's importance as a regional and international business centre from the
period of the Melaka Sultanate, right through the Portuguese, Dutch and
British era. Maritime Museum (Replica Flor de La Mar), Malacca is also known as Muzium
Samudera in Malay language. There are 2 phases of Maritime Museum. And
together with TLDM Museum and Ex-KD Sri Terengganu Warship are part of the
Maritime Museums Complex. We are going to explore Maritime Museum
It's surprising that you have to take off our shoes at the
entrance of the museum. You can choose to put your shoes at the shoe rack
provided at the entrance door or put them into a plastic bag provided by the
museum and carry it with you to the museum. When you continue your visit
you'll find the answer at the first deck of the ship museum. The floor is
very well polished. At the upper deck you'll see different models of ships showcased there. Also
visualized are situations of how traders from Arab, India and China
conducted business with each other in order to gain profit in Melaka port,
which was known as Venice of the East at that time. Porcelain, silk, textile
and spices were among some of the famous merchandises being brought into
Melaka by the traders. Framed paintings and pictures that illustrate how
Melaka played its role as emporium for traders from all around the world,
were also hanged on the walls.
Moving forward to the other side of
the ship, was the captain’s cabin. This is where you can see diorama
of a captain's cabin although you are not allowed to walk into the
cabin to have an actual look, you can still read about the roles of
a captain at the door step.
The museum houses exhibits, artefacts and documents from the
Melaka's golden era as the Emporium of the East and reveals how
political control of Melaka was essential to the establishment of
maritime dominance in the region.
The museum also traces Melaka's trading links from the earliest
times through the colonial era, the Japanese conquest and brief
period of Japanese rule, the return of Britain as the colonial
master, the emergence of the independent nation of the Federation of
Malaya and the formation of Malaysia.
The Maritime Museum
is located along Quayside Road (Jalan Merdeka) at the
Melaka River.
Opening hours
9am - 5:30pm (Monday to Friday)
9am - 9:00pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Entrance fee RM 5.-
Information tel: +6 06 283 0926
Ticket to the Maritime Museum can be used to enter