Holland Village

Was Holland Village always this vibrant? I see you eyeing those colorful shophouses and bustling restaurants. Let me tell you, Holland Village, or “Holland V” as the locals affectionately call it, has quite the story. This little enclave, nestled between Bukit Timah and Queenstown, wasn’t always a foodie paradise and expat hangout. Holland Village takes its name from Holland Road, named after Hugh Holland, an architect and amateur actor in the early 1900s. He was among the first residents of this area. Interestingly, Holland Road also has a Hokkien name, “hue hng au,” meaning “behind the flower garden,” referring to the nearby Singapore Botanic Gardens. In the 1930s, Holland Village became a hub for British soldiers and their families stationed at Pasir Panjang and Alexandra. It also served the nearby Tanglin area, home to many Europeans. This created an early expat presence. In the mid-20th century, the surroundings of Holland Village were a mix of agricultural lands and even a Hakka cemetery known as Shuang Long Shan. By the 1960s, this cemetery was exhumed to make way for development, with remains cremated and reinterred near Holland Close. Fast forward to the 1960s and 70s, Holland Village was a mix of shophouses and wooden shacks catering to a largely Western clientele, further reinforced by the British military housing built at Chip Bee Gardens. With the development of the Buona Vista public housing estate in 1972, a larger local population emerged, and the village diversified, with traditional markets and shops springing up alongside the expat-oriented businesses. The opening of the Holland Road Shopping Centre, with Singapore’s first Western supermarket, Fitzpatricks, and Jumbo Coffeehouse, solidified the area’s reputation as an expat hub. The real transformation into a foodie paradise happened in the 1980s. Wine bars became trendy, and cafes like Better Batters, famous for its pancakes, and Milano Pizza added to the growing culinary scene. In the 90s, Original Sin restaurant in Chip Bee Gardens introduced upscale vegetarian cuisine, and Coffee Club, Singapore’s first gourmet coffee shop, opened here before the arrival of Starbucks and others. The area continues to evolve. The Holland Village MRT station, opened in 2011, has made the area even more accessible, though the increased traffic hasn’t always been welcomed by established businesses. Today, Holland Village, with its blend of old and new, local and international, remains a unique and vibrant part of Singapore. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go explore!