Galle Sri Lanka - Holding the Fort - The remaining Dutch Burghers...

A BBC Radio 4 programme 'inheritance' broadcasted in April 1987 and recorded by me direct to cassette tape.
The New Oriental Hotel featured in this video is now a fine boutique hotel renamed Amangalla -Galle.
A Rodney Arnoldi archive recording.

[@dominicsansoni]

I knew Nesta so well, since I was a child. She was a great friend of my parents. A wonderful program. Thank you.

[@nirmalakalansuriya1462]

I studied in Galle and had many burgher friends. They were so kind and nice. I still love them.

[@R31Mark]

Just watching this out of interest as my dad is from Sri Lanka and someone starts talking about Bartholomeusz! That’s my family name 😱

[@bangurhead4027]

That's awesome, my Dad's name is De Zilwa, I believe that's Dutch Berger, my Grandma was a Mortier. I guess the govt changed the national language to Singhalese and a bunch of THUGS roamed the island persecuting burger people, they all left eventually. By the 1990's there wasn't too many Berger's left the island. Another sad story in Colonial history.. 👎

[@bandulaliyanage1725]

Yes, there were some Bartholomeusz in Galle fort, see galle tennis community photos...

[@vijayafernando1]

Brings it all back to me- my childhood in Ceylon.

[@gatheringleaves]

There's a Portuguese influence in Ceylon too?!

[@kalegana]

Thank you very much Mr. Rodney for recording and saving this radio broadcast. very knowledgeable hidden history i never knew of my city.

[@rodneyarnoldi]

Thank you Sameera for your comments. Glad to hear that you enjoyed the video and found it interesting. I enjoyed putting it together.

[@nmekenkamp]

Thank you so much for posting this. Nesta is my grandmother and I knew mrs Bulgens and aunty Gracie very well. It brings back so many memories.

[@rodneyarnoldi]

Thank you very much. I'm very happy to hear that the video brought back some nice memories. Rodney.

[@jundahapoiya3392]

Wow.. what a beautiful City........lot of memories to cherish. Galle, The city we grew........!

[@elisabethleembruggen51]

Nesta is my Aunty via marriage and I was with her in Galle a few years before she passed. I am also a Bartholomeusz, as my mother is Barbara Leembruggen nee Bartholomeusz. My cousin Tara has written just above my comment. Thank you Mr Arnoldi for this! It's lovely to hear Aunt Nesta's voice again; lovely to remember the positive aspects about our colonial past. I am and always will be a Dutch Burgher and my heart loves Sri Lanka no matter where I live (Dr Elisabeth Leembruggen)

[@rodneyarnoldi]

Thank you Elisabeth for your nice comments...so pleased you enjoyed it...much appreciated. I was living in Bandarawela for about 14 years and loved the country very much. Now back in the UK. You might like the another video I made titled 'Adisham Hall Sri Lanka - A folly-fledged mystery' Once again it is based on a tape I recorded from BBC Radio 3 many many years. Thank you Rodney.

[@2Srilankadevelopment1975]

So where are you live in right now. Yes we live sri Lanka and the burgers lots of my friends when I was in sri Lanka Colombo .also my first girlfriend was Eleanor roberta pavey from Aliancs fracias French school .we had wonderful 14 years love affair. Before she went to France. I still remember her blue eyes. Love burgher people

[@2Srilankadevelopment1975]

​@@rodneyarnoldi❤❤❤

[@rodneyarnoldi]

@@2Srilankadevelopment1975 Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

[@niruthashendra655]

Thank you for posting this

[@rodneyarnoldi]

My pleasure. I returned from Sri Lanka last night. Stayed in Galle Fort for one night at the '56 by Deco hotel' The Fort is looking very good with the beautifully restored period buildings.

[@hjaafker]

Very nostalgic, I went to Mrs Bartholomew's class those days.

[@buddikamahinsakeerthisingh9437]

its so nice to spread the Knowledge of History to everyone .

[@rodneyarnoldi]

Yes...

[@nancyemoni206]

Wow

[@endzarivers7692]

I am a student at Southlands College, Galle Fort. Miss fort school life in quarantine.

[@bandulaliyanage1725]

Now bit ok....

[@travelguidesbabboaroundthe6173]

Well done!

[@rodneyarnoldi]

Thank you for your comment. R.

[@travelsdzoon223]

Hello...my name is Dileep from Sri Lanka. Thank you for the video ! Would like to be a friend of yours 🙏🙏🙏

[@anjula7316]

Home town 🤩

[@antoneyfrancislage7092]

Noch haben Sie photos Ceylon. 1800 Jahre

[@tarabartholomew1882]

thank you, from a Bartholomeusz :)

[@rodneyarnoldi]

Thank you Tara, glad you enjoyed it. Regards, Rodney.

[@vijayafernando1]

@@rodneyarnoldi my sisters went to Wendy whatmore school in Colombo. Nationalism is so destructive full stop

[@rodneyarnoldi]

@@vijayafernando1 Correct...

[@R31Mark]

Tara Bartholomew hi ! What part of the world do you live in? I am a Bartholomeusz too, my dad migrated to Australia. I have never met another Dutch Burgher besides my immediate family, nobody here knows what it is either and thinks I am not being serious “you don’t look Sri Lankan”..

[@azadrasheed497]

Quite a few Bartholomewsin the school I went. Those were the days

[@user-er6vf6op3b]

Our son too went for Elocution to Mra Bartholomeuz

[@vishvaperumal6719]

There were sevaral Poice officers in Sri lanka with my farther. They are Buljens, Brohiars, Barrtholamuz etc. It is sad situation now in this service It time for others also to leave the country.

[@user-dr5lr5of1s]

Its buultjens , brohier and bartholomeusz