SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - Holland Village, widely known as Holland V and grounds to a low-rise estate of hipster shophouses and F&B establishments, has been recognised as an enclave for the expatriate community. This stems from the neighbourhood’s history, which was established in the early 1900s by the Dutch community, and home to British Army personnel and their families. (See also: Holland Village shophouse for sale at $13.5 mil)

The precinct was named after English architect and amateur actor Hugh Holland in the 1900s, giving rise to the names Holland Avenue, Holland Close and Holland Drive within the enclave.

In its earlier days, the area was filled with plantation estates in the heavily wooded area of Chip Bee Estate and Lorong Mambong. Residential developments only started springing up in the Holland Village neighbourhood after the areas of Orchard Road and Tanglin grew as prime residential locations.

Over the years, the neighbourhood has earned a reputation for being a rendezvous point for local musicians and artists, amid a galore of food offerings. The Lorong Mambong area is home to a trove of restaurants and bars, such as Wala Wala cafe bar, a joint for live music and drinks, and La Nonna, serving Italian cuisine.

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Along the road, shopping mall Holland Piazza houses a further selection of food options like Little Caesars Pizza and Ya Kun Kaya Toast for a quick fix of traditional local coffee and toast. Nearby, there is also a Crystal Jade franchise serving Cantonese cuisine, Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh, which serves pork ribs with herbal broth in a claypot, and Two Men Bagel House, which specialises in a selection of bagels with a twist of local fare. Tai Cheong Bakery, known for its egg tarts, has also found itself a place in Holland Village.

For a cheaper alternative, visitors can also stop by Holland Village Market & Food Centre. In 2019, the centre was given a $1.26 million revamp that saw new chairs, tables and new electrical wiring installed, after its last renovation in 2005.

Beyond that, Chip Bee Gardens hosts an eclectic mix of al-fresco eateries. These include popular names like Tiong Bahru Bakery and Baker & Cook, serving a range of pastries, bread and western breakfast meals, ice cream haven Sunday Folks and The Daily Scoop, and Da Paolo Pizza Bar.

The area is also host to local fashion and creative brands. Fashion labels Our Second Nature and Ong Shunmugam have set up shop here, while leather craftsman Bynd Artisan also opened its flagship store within the estate. Riding on experiential retail, the store organises craft workshops, and offers personalisation of paper and leather accessories. Taksu Art Gallery provides art lovers with a dose of contemporary art, holding a selection of work from young talents and critically acclaimed artists.

Preserving the charm

Paying homage to Holland Village’s eclectic charm, the Singapore government sought to preserve the enclave and designated it as an “identity node” in its 2013 Master Plan. In line with the government’s vision for the neighbourhood, a land site of 247,215 sq ft in Holland Village was launched for tender, and eventually awarded to Far East Organization, with its joint-venture partners Sekisui House and Sino Group.

The consortium won the site with a bid of $1.2 billion, the highest bid among five shortlisted bidders, which translates to approximately $1,888 psf per plot ratio (psf ppr). As part of the tender process, bidders are required to submit their proposed concept for the site. They are then evaluated based on their concept proposals before their bid prices. The site was hotly contested and attracted a total of 15 concept proposals, of which the consortium submitted multiple proposals.

Once it is completed, One Holland Village is set to rejuvenate the precinct with residential units, serviced residences, offices, public community spaces, and retail spaces spanning 145,313 sq ft. To blend in with the existing area, the streets of Lorong Liput and Lorong Mambong will be extended into the public square, marking a continuous pedestrian street that leads right up to the Holland Village Market & Food Centre. The retail strip will be low-rise, while the office blocks will feature a shared sky deck that can host business events. Retail tenants will include Cold Storage supermarket and Guardian pharmacy.

Besides that, the new mixed-use precinct will house art house cinema The Projector and not-for-profit arts organisation The Rice Company Limited. Far East Organization has also committed $20 million to beautify One Holland Village through public art.

Injecting further footfall

Other new residential developments that are set to inject further footfall into the neighbourhood include Van Holland, which is scheduled for completion in 2024. The development comprises 69 units across three low-rise blocks, spanning sizes from 495 to 1,991 sq ft. These homes come with lofty ceilings of 3.1m in most rooms.

From the development, schools within the vicinity include Henry Park Primary School, Nanyang Primary School, Fairfield Methodist Primary School, New Town Primary School, Margaret’s Secondary School, Hwa Chong Institution and Anglo-Chinese School (International) Singapore.

Check out the latest listings near Holland Village, One Holland Village, Van Holland, Holland Village MRT station, Henry Park Primary School, Nanyang Primary School, Fairfield Methodist Primary School, New Town Primary School, Margaret’s Secondary School, Hwa Chong Institution and Anglo-Chinese School (International) Singapore

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