The Dutch Reformed Church inside the Matara Fort was built in 1706 by the Dutch East India Company, near the entrance to the fort. It is a simple, whitewashed building with a plain interior that retains its original proportions and some original features, including the floor tombstones and a few colonial-period furnishings. The church is still in use for services, which gives it a living quality that purely museumified historic buildings lack.
The church is small and the visit is quick — perhaps 20 minutes — but the building is genuinely old and the atmosphere inside is cool and quiet. It sits near the fort gate, so it is easy to combine with a walk along the rampart walls. The caretaker may be present and can give some context about the church's history. Visitors should be respectful of the fact that this is an active place of worship, especially if services are in progress.