Fort Rotterdam Makassar – Apart from its stunning landscapes and legendary culinary delights, Makassar also has a wealth of fascinating historical sites worth checking out on your next trip.
Fort Rotterdam is one of the many historical places in this capital city of South Sulawesi Province that you should not miss. Stick around to see the many interesting stories and activities this fort has to offer!
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All You Need to Know About Fort Rotterdam Makassar
This silent witness to Makassar’s history has a long story to tell, starting from the change of ownership, the change of name, to the change of function. Read on to learn more about Fort Rotterdam before your next trip!
A Brief History of Makassar’s Grandest Fort
Before it was known as Fort Rotterdam, this historical building, which takes place on the coast of Makassar, was called Fort Ujung Pandang. Established by the Sultan of the Gowa-Tallo Kingdom in the 16th century, this fort was originally only made of stone and clay that was burned to dry.
Over time, the fort’s walls were eventually rebuilt out of solid black stone, making it the strongest and grandest of the 17 forts that once stood in Makassar. However, the existence of this fort cannot be separated from the presence of the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
Led by Cornelis Speelman, the VOC defeated the Gowa-Tallo Kingdom and coerced it to sign the Treaty of Bongaya. All the forts in Makassar had to be demolished, leaving only Fort Ujung Pandang, which was later rebuilt by the Dutch and named after Speelman’s birthplace, Rotterdam.
Fort Rotterdam’s Philosophy and Function from Time to Time
T-mates, did you know that when viewed from above, this fort looks like a sea turtle going toward the ocean? This unique design turns out to be a philosophy of the Gowa-Tallo Kingdom that can thrive on land and at sea, similar to how a sea turtle can live in both habitats.
This fort serves a variety of functions from time to time. After being captured by the Dutch, Fort Rotterdam Makassar was used as a center of military power as well as a symbol of the monopoly and exploitation of Makassar’s wealth. Later, when the Japanese took over, the fort was converted into a research center for agricultural science and language.
In 1970, Fort Rotterdam Makassar was restored and used as a government office. The La Galigo Museum was one of the structures, and it housed stories about the fort’s journey as well as collections from South Sulawesi kingdoms such as paintings and prehistoric stone tools.
What to Do in This Magnificent Historic Fort?
Fort Rotterdam Makassar offers a variety of interesting activities for you to do. You can start by exploring the centuries-old European-style fort complex that contains around 13 buildings, 11 of which are original buildings dating back to the 16th century.
There are many historical spots to see, such as bastions that still contain cannons inside of them. You may even be able to witness the prison where Prince Diponegoro was kept in 1833, which is located in Bastion Bacan.
As for the residence of Cornelis Speelman, part of which has become the La Galigo Museum, where you can learn everything about how the people of South Sulawesi survived and the traditions of the tribes that can be found in this province.
Fort Rotterdam Makassar: Route and Ticket Price
Located in the heart of Makassar City, many public transportation options can be used to reach this historical tourist attraction. From Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, you can take the DAMRI bus to Karebosi, then get off directly at Fort Rotterdam.
From Soekarno Hatta Port, you can take pete-pete, majoring in Pasar Butung – Malengkeri, then get off at Fort Rotterdam. There are also other vehicles, such as taxis, that you can find at several points in Makassar City.
Fort Rotterdam Makassar is open every day from 8 AM to 6 PM (local time). To admire this beautiful colonial building, you only need to spend 5000 IDR per person! Isn’t it amazing that it won’t cost you much to witness this fascinating landmark?
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Before your visit to Makassar, here are some facts to learn about this city’s airport!
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport is the largest airport in Eastern Indonesia, with an architectural design that resembles a traditional South Sulawesi ship. Wow!
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*All information is valid at the time this article was written. Prices and other conditions may change at any time
