Baan Hollanda บ้านฮอลันดา is a former Dutch trading village in Thailand, founded in 1643 during the Ayutthaya era. Located along the Chao Phraya river near the Ayutthaya Historical Park, to the south of the city island. It was established by the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
The term "Wilanda" was used by the Siamese in the past to mean those from the Netherlands, or the Dutch. It was derived from the Malay "Orang Belanda". It was used to denote the Dutch in Java and elsewhere in the East Indies. "Belanda" itself was possibly derived from the Portuguese "Hollanda" (Holland).
The Dutch first established formal trade relations with Siam in 1604, towards the end of King Naresuan’s reign. In 1608, King Ekathotsarot granted permission to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to open its trading post in Ayutthaya.
The location was in the southern part of the walled island city and was a rather constricted space. In 1634, during the reign of King Prasat Thong, a new VOC ...
Ku Ban Prasat, a modest 11th to 13th-century Khmer ruin Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, embodies the transitional Buddhist phase of the Angkor Empire’s northeastern frontier.
Constructed primarily of laterite with remnants of sandstone carvings, the site centers on a raised rectangular platform that once supported three brick towers aligned east-west—hallmarks of the Bayon-style architecture promoted by King Jayavarman VII (1181–1218).
The towers, now reduced to scattered foundations and fragmented walls without a surviving prang superstructure, were likely dedicated to Mahayana Buddhist worship, as evidenced by unearthed fragments of Buddha heads in Dvaravati-influenced local style.
Originally a Hindu outpost in the 11th century under Suryavarman I, the complex evolved amid the empire’s shift toward Buddhism, incorporating motifs of lotuses and guardian figures on eroded lintels.
Enclosed by a single moat and a partial gallery, it served as a rural waystation along pilgrimage ...
The Thailand vs. Singapore men’s international football friendly took place on November 13, 2025, at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand (just north of Bangkok).
This match served as preparation for upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, with Thailand focusing on tactical experiments and player evaluations, while Singapore aimed to test against stronger opposition ahead of a key qualifier against Hong Kong.
Attendance for the game was 10,205.
Thailand, ranked 97th in FIFA standings and coached by Masatada Ishii, entered as clear favorites after a strong year, including a 6-1 win over Chinese Taipei in October’s Asian Cup qualifier and recent friendlies like a 2-0 victory over Afghanistan in March.
Singapore, ranked around 150th and led by interim coach Gavin Lee, had bounced back from World Cup qualifiers with wins over Chinese Taipei (2-0 home, 6-1 away) but struggled defensively, conceding heavily in recent games.
Thailand secured a 3-2 victory in a competitive affair, ...
The Phimai Light and Sound Show is a captivating highlight of the annual Phimai Festival, transforming the ancient Khmer ruins of Phimai Historical Park into a living tableau of Thailand’s Khmer heritage.
Held in the heart of Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province (Isaan region), the show uses state-of-the-art projections, lasers, music, and narration to vividly recreate the history of the Khmer Empire, focusing on the era of King Jayavarman VII (1181–1220).
The park itself, centered around Prasat Hin Phimai—the largest and most intact Khmer temple in Thailand—serves as the dramatic backdrop, with lights illuminating its towering sandstone prangs (towers) and intricate lintels, evoking the grandeur of Angkor Wat’s northern outpost.
As part of the Phimai Festival 2025, the light and sound show runs nightly from November 5 to 9, 2025, starting at approximately 7:00 PM and lasting 30–45 minutes per performance. Shows typically begin after sunset (around 6:30 PM in November).
The ...
