Singapore celebrates its multi-ethnic population in many ways, bringing people together and honoring their histories. Across the country, a variety of heritage centres recognize major cultural groups: Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Peranakan. Those are the best-known heritage centres — but if you’re curious about a lesser-known site, head over to the Singapore Eurasian Heritage Gallery.

Who are the Eurasians?

It’s amazing that this population merits its own museum, because in a country of over 6 million people, only 15,500 or so are Eurasian. But these descendants of partnerships between European men and Asian women have made significant contributions to the country. They trace their lineage to Singapore’s days as a historic trading post.

The first Eurasians in Singapore were children of Portuguese spice traders and their local wives or partners. Later, the Dutch and then the British came to Singapore and had children with women on the island. In 1849, the British coined the term “Eurasian” to describe this part-European, part-Asian group.

A Bit of Eurasian History

The Eurasian Heritage Gallery, developed by the Eurasian Association, consists of only three rooms. I would call the first of these the “here’s who we are, here’s where we lived, here’s what we did” gallery. You’ll learn about everything from traditional Eurasian neighborhoods, such as Little England …

… to jobs historically held by Eurasians (these included telephone and telegraph operators, positions often given to Eurasians because of their English fluency).

Making an Impact

The second room, which I would call the “famous and semi-famous Eurasians gallery,” focuses on Eurasians who’ve made a difference in Singapore’s history.

You’ll meet writers and judges, government ministers and soldiers. I found this section the least compelling — famous Singaporeans aren’t my thing — but I did appreciate the small area that focuses on the Eurasian War Story.

World War II affected everyone in Singapore, but to my knowledge, Eurasians were the only group that were moved wholesale out of the country. When Singapore experienced a food shortage during the war, the occupying Japanese army compelled Eurasians to leave and start their own colony — Bahau Village — in Malaysia. The Eurasians encountered horrible conditions, including dysentery, malaria, and black water fever. A quarter of the 2,000 Bahau settlers never returned.

Snacks, Hats, and Eurasian-Speak

The last gallery, which I’ll designate “everything culture,” feels the most cluttered and the most fun.

Excited to try your hand at Eurasian cooking? Your shopping list is here: soy sauce, tamarind, belacan, and fiery-hot chiles. Wondering about Eurasian religions? They were mostly Catholic, with some Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutherans in the mix. Curious about traditional music and costumes? The Eurasian Heritage Gallery’s got you covered with Hawaiian bands and folk outfits.

I loved the little tidbits of information here, like the fact that hats were a “distinguishing fashion trait” for Eurasian women, worn for every church event and fancy occasions.

If you’re a sports fan, you’ll learn that Eurasians spearheaded efforts to build local field hockey leagues. And you’ll discover that a Eurasian swimmer, Joseph Schooling, won Singapore’s first Olympic gold in the 100m butterfly in 2016.

You’ll also discover a great section on Kristang, a now nearly extinct creole spoken by Singaporean Eurasians. Want to learn to say thank you? It’s muitu merseh (you can find the pronunciation — and many more Kristang words — here).

I appreciate that while this room does look intentionally curated, there are some pieces that appear to be here just because someone donated them. For example, there’s a lot more tableware and Delftware than you might expect given the limited space. But I don’t mind, because it’s beautiful stuff.

Final Reflections on the Singapore Eurasian Heritage Gallery

This museum is very sweet — it’s clearly a labor of love on the part of the Eurasian Association. Given the community’s tiny size, it’s remarkable that this heritage gallery came into being. Eurasians make up only 0.4% of Singapore’s total population, and the Singapore government classifies them as “Others” in the CMIO (Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others) framework.

The existence of this museum suggests that Eurasians in Singapore have been punching above their weight. They have made important contributions to Singapore’s history and culture, and they’ve mustered impressive funding and clout to tell their story.

Finally, one of the sweetest things about the Eurasian Heritage Gallery is that they give you a small napkin pack as a visit gift. Tiny napkin packets are ubiquitous in Singapore — they serve as place-holders at hawker centres and are useful at the many eateries that don’t provide napkins at all. I loved this little present.

Will this museum be for everyone? Probably not — it’s on the niche side. But if you want a full picture of Singapore’s heritage, I would say that you shouldn’t miss it.

Visit Tips for the Singapore Eurasian Heritage Gallery

• Hours and entry fees may be found on the Eurasian Association website.
• Bring cash. When I visited, they were not able to take any other form of payment.
• Time to spend: Half an hour will be enough for most people; 45 minutes if you want to read everything.
• Accessibility: This is a single-floor museum on the fourth floor, accessible by an elevator.
• Location: 139 Ceylon Road in Singapore’s vibrant Joo Chiat neighborhood.
• Food: The museum does not have a cafe, but if you want to sample authentic Eurasian food, visit Quentin’s Eurasian Restaurant on the first floor (the fare is pricey, spicy, and delicious). For other cuisines, walk just a few blocks to the hawkers and restaurants of Joo Chiat.

This post is a continuation of my exploration of Singapore’s cultural heritage. Here are a few highlights:

• You’ll find a full guide to Singapore’s other heritage centres here.
• The Singapore Coffee Shop Heritage Gallery is a hidden gem of particular note.
• For an outdoor exploration of Singapore’s history and natural beauty, make sure to visit Fort Canning.