Aceh Museum

Aceh Museum is the oldest museum in Aceh Province, located in central Banda Aceh near the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque. Established in 1915 during the Dutch colonial period, it preserves Acehnese history and culture through archaeological, ethnographic and historical collections. Its most iconic feature is the Rumoh Aceh, a traditional stilt house. The museum serves as a key cultural institution documenting Aceh's heritage from prehistoric times to the present.

Visitors can expect a compact museum complex centered around the Rumoh Aceh, a traditional Acehnese wooden stilt house with distinctive roof and elevated structure. Inside the main exhibition buildings, visitors can see ethnographic collections including traditional costumes, weapons, ceramics, jewelry, manuscripts, and household tools, as well as archaeological finds and historical photographs documenting Acehnese culture. The grounds are landscaped with open areas, and displays are arranged in indoor galleries that can be explored on foot with guided tours available.

Established on 31 July 1915 as the Aceh Museum under Dutch colonial administration, initiated by Governor General F.W. Stammeshaus. Originally housed in a traditional Rumoh Aceh building, it was intended to preserve Acehnese cultural artifacts. The Rumoh Aceh structure was exhibited at the Colonial Exhibition in Semarang in 1914 before being reassembled at its current site. The museum survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and remains the oldest museum in Aceh.

The museum is the principal institution for preserving and presenting Acehnese cultural heritage, including Islamic traditions, traditional architecture, textiles, crafts, and customs. The Rumoh Aceh exemplifies traditional Acehnese domestic architecture and building techniques, serving as an educational resource for local identity and cultural continuity.