Dutch Cemetery

The Dutch Cemetery in Fort Kochi is the oldest European cemetery in India, consecrated in 1724. Located near St. Francis Church, it contains 104 tombs and epitaphs of Dutch colonial officials, merchants, and soldiers from the Dutch East India Company era. The site features traditional Dutch architectural style with granite and laterite tombstones bearing inscriptions in ancient Dutch script.

Visitors can view 104 historic tombs constructed in traditional Dutch architectural style from outside the boundary walls, as the cemetery is typically closed to public entry. The site features granite and red laterite tombstones with inscriptions in ancient Dutch, English, and Portuguese scripts. Access may be arranged on request through the managing authority. The cemetery is surrounded by a plastered wall and located near the sea in a quiet setting.

The Dutch Cemetery was founded in 1724 after the Dutch captured Cochin from the Portuguese in 1663 and established it as an administrative centre of Dutch Malabar and trading settlement of the Dutch East India Company. It served as the main burial ground for Dutch colonial officials, army officers, and merchant communities living in Kochi during Dutch rule from 1663 to 1795. The year 1724 is inscribed on the entrance pillar, marking its historic significance as one of the oldest European cemeteries in India.

The cemetery stands as a testament to Kerala's colonial past and the Dutch presence on the Malabar Coast. It represents the historical legacy of Dutch colonial administration and trade in the region. The site is maintained by the Church of South India (CSI), which also manages the nearby St. Francis Church, preserving an important chapter of Indo-European colonial history.