Fort Rotterdam, Makassar

 

INDEPHEDIA.com - Fort Rotterdam or Ujung Pandang Fortress is a historical tourist attraction located on the west coast in Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, which was built during the Gowa Sultanate era which was victorious in the 17th century.

The fort, which was built in 1545 by the King of Gowa X, Imanrigau Daeng Bonto Karaeng Lakiung or Karaeng Tunipalanga Ulaweng, is located in the city, precisely in front sea port of Makassar City, about two kilometers from Losari Beach.

Like the Portuguese-style fort architecture, this fort is rectangular in shape, and is made from a mixture of stone and clay which is burned to dry. During the reign of King of Gowa XIV, the fort walls were changed to black solid stones.

During the Dutch colonial period, some of this fortress was ravaged by the outbreak of war between the VOC war fleet led by Governor General Admiral Cornelis Janszoon Speelman and the Sultanate of Gowa since 1666.

The attack itself was aimed at controlling the spice trade route and at the same time expanding the Dutch territory. After attacking the Sultanate of Gowa for more than a year, the war troops led by Speelman managed to win and forced Sultan Hasanuddin to sign the Bongaya Agreement on 18 November 1667.

The part fort that was destroyed was rebuilt by Governor General Speelman but adapted to the Dutch architectural style. The fort that was previously rectangular and has four bastions, is added with one in the west.

A bastion was a sturdy structure that was placed higher in every corner of the fort and on top of which were placed canons or cannons. The name fort was later changed to Fort Roterdam, after Speelman's birthplace.

At that time, Fort Fort Rotterdam functioned as a trade center and warehouse for crops and spices, as well as being the center of Dutch government in the eastern region of the archipelago.

If you visit Fort Rotterdam, don't ever imagine a spooky and haunted atmosphere because the building is old. This is because this historic fortress is not an empty place but its existence is functioning properly.

This fort was used by the local government as the Makassar Cultural Center and functioned as an office to make the fort's environment clean, tidy and well-maintained.

In this historical place, besides being able to see the fort for free, you can also visit the La Galigo Museum, see the narrow room where Prince Diponegoro was detained after being arrested by the Dutch in Java and many others. For those of you who like history, don't miss visiting this fort if you are going to or while in Makassar. (FP/IN/*)