The Stadthuys is a historical structure situated in the heart of Malacca City. Stadthuy is an old Dutch spelling, and the meaning is city hall. Stadthuys is the administrative capital of the state of Malacca; it is located in a place known as the “Red Square“, all the buildings around Red Square are red. The Stadhuys is known for its red exterior and nearby red clock tower. The Dutch built it in 1650 as the office of the Dutch Governor and Deputy Governor.

After Malacca was taken over by the British in the 19th century, the Malacca Free School was opened in the vicinity of the Stadthuys on 7 December 1826, by missionaries residing in the state, in response to a letter dated 19 April 1825, which called for an English institutional education to be built in Malacca. The school, which the British provided free education to residents, was eventually renamed Malacca High School in 1871 upon a takeover by the British government and moved out to its present site at Chan Koon Cheng Road in 1931.

The Stadthuys is situated at Laksamana Road, beside the Christ Church Melaka. Stadthuys is the oldest remaining Dutch historical building in the Orient.