Bangunan Stadthuys yang bermaksud Dewan Bandaran dibina oleh pemerintah Belanda pada tahun 1650an setelah mengambil alih Melaka daripada Portugis pada tahun 1641. Bangunan setinggi empat tingkat mengikut teres Bukit St. Paul seluas 49,200 kaki persegi, menjadi kediaman Gabenor Belanda sehingga awal kurun ke 18 di samping menjadi pusat pentadbiran Belanda sehingga 1824. Pemerintah Inggeris menjadikan bangunan ini sebagai pusat pentadbirannya. Bangunan Stadthuys terus menjadi pusat pentadbiran negeri Melaka hingga akhir tahun 1979. Warna asal bangunan ini adalah putih. Ianya ditukar kepada warna merah pada tahun 1920an dan kekal sebagai Bangunan Merah.

Bangunan Stadthuys telah mengalami banyak perubahan sejak awal Zaman British. Walau bagaimanapun ia masih mengekalkan seni bina Belanda dengan ciri-ciri seperti dinding batu yang tebal beserta tingkap-tingkap dan pintu-pintu yang besar. Di bawah lantai bangunan ini disediakan sistem perparitan yang dialirkan ke Sungai Melaka. Di ruang pejabat Gabenor terdapat hiasan ukiran kayu keras berbentuk bunga. Dapur tempat membakar roti yang besar terletak di belakang menunjukkan ramai orang yang berkunjung. Ruang bilik tidur Gabenor yang terletak pada bahagian paling tinggi dihias dengan lukisan mitologi Cina. Di bahagian bawah hadapan terdapat ruang penjara.

Konservasi bangunan Stadthuys telah dilaksanakan pada tahun 1985 oleh Jabatan Kerja Raya Melaka, mengambil masa selama 4 tahun. Semasa kerja-kerja tersebut dijalankan telah terjumpa beberapa komponen yang tidak diduga. Antaranya ditemui perigi yang disusun dengan batu karang di kawasan halaman bahagian dalam dan sebuah lagi di bawah tembok bangunan yang telah dikambus semasa bangunan tersebut dibina. Kedua-dua perigi ini dipercayai digali pada zaman Portugis. Selain itu, sebuah perigi Belanda beserta tapak bangunan yang dibina seiring dengan bangunan Stadthuys telah ditemui, di bahagian belakang, sebuah kolah dan laluan dari dalam bangunan telah ditemui semasa kerja-kerja memusnahkan ruang tambahan baru. Kesemua penemuan ini diwujudkan semula untuk tatapan orang ramai.

The Stadthuys which means the municipal town hall was built by the Dutch during the 1960’s after having taken over from the Portuguese in 1641.

It was built in 4 stories on a terrace of St. Paul’s hill covering 49,200 sq. feet in area. It had been the Governor’s residence until as early as the 18th century. It also was the Dutch Administrative Centre until 1824. Why, even the British made this building their administrative centre too. The Statdhuys continued to be the State Governing Centre until the end of 1979. The original color of this building was white. It was changed to red during the 1820’s and then came to be known as ‘The Red Building’ to date.

Although had been renovated many times during the regime of British, the artistic design of the Dutch of the thick brick walls and big windows and doors has been mantained. Just beneath the floors a superb drainage system that flows back into the Malacca’s river had been constructed. In the Governor’s office, there is a hand carved flowerpot made from real hard wood. A huge bread toaster is situated at the back of the building proved that many visitors who flocked there. The Governor’s bedroom found on the top most floors is very spacious and decorated with Chinese Mythology arts. There is also prison further down the vicinity.

Conservation works of the Stadthuys were made in 1985 by the Public Works Department and took almost 4 years to complete. Strange components and antiques were found during this period of renovation including wells built of sea stones. In the exterior another well was also discovered beneath the building. It is believed that both these wells were dug for use during the Portuguese occupation. Another well built by the Dutch and also building site adjacent to the Stadthuys was also found behind the building. A pool and a pathway were found when demolition works were undertaken against new extension to building. Whatever was unearthed during this renovation period has been displayed in the State Museum for public.