Fort Amsterdam, Military fort on the Caribbean coast of Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
The fort structure stands on a promontory between Great Bay and Little Bay, featuring stone walls and several 19th-century cannons positioned along its perimeter.
Dutch settlers constructed Fort Amsterdam in 1631 as a military stronghold, which Spain captured and controlled until the Dutch-French partition agreement of 1648.
The fortress represents the intersection of European colonial powers in the Caribbean, marking centuries of territorial disputes between Dutch, Spanish, French, and British forces.
Visitors can access the fort daily to explore the remaining fortification walls, read information panels, and observe the oxidized cannons from multiple vantage points.
The strategic position of Fort Amsterdam made it the first Dutch military outpost in the Caribbean, leading to the establishment of other colonial settlements.
Location: Philipsburg
GPS coordinates: 18.01480,-63.05950
Latest update: May 17, 2025 10:26
Saint-Martin is a Caribbean island divided between France and the Netherlands. The coastline features white sand beaches such as Orient Bay, Maho Beach, and Baie Rouge, while smaller islands like Pinel and Tintamarre sit just offshore. The interior rises to Pic Paradis, which stands 424 meters (1,391 feet) high, and is protected by land and marine nature reserves. Historic fortifications including Fort Louis and Fort Amsterdam date from the colonial period. The island shows traces of pre-Columbian settlement, including the Moho petroglyphs and the Hope Estate archaeological site. Museums in Marigot and Philipsburg document the island's history, while the Marigot Market offers local produce and crafts. Grand Case is known for its restaurants, and places like the Butterfly Farm and Parotte Ville Bird Sanctuary provide encounters with wildlife.
Pic Paradis
7 km
Maho Beach
7 km
Fort Louis
6.8 km
St. Martin of Tours' Church, Sint Maarten
1.7 km
La Loterie Farm
7 km
Marigot Market
6.5 km
Boundary marker St. Martin
5 km
St. Martin of Tours' Church, Marigot
6.6 km
Moho petroglyph
6.5 km
Parotte Ville
4.7 km
Mullet Bay Beach
7.8 km
Sentry Hill
3.1 km
Kim Sha Beach
4.1 km
Methodist church, Philipsburg
1.7 km
Great Bay Beach
1.3 km
Guavaberry Emporium, Philipsburg
2 km
Marigot Lighthouse
6.9 km
Estadio Jean Louis Vanterpool
6.6 km
Église Saint-Joseph de Quartier-d'Orléans
7.3 km
Tabernacle Methodist Church
6.4 km
Courthouse
1.8 km
Sint Maarten Heritage Museum
2 km
Église méthodiste de Marigot
6.5 km
Morne Valois
7.1 km
Marigot (ulohang dakbayan)
6.3 km
Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House
8.1 km
Statue of Claude Wathey
1.9 km
Simson Bay Lagoon
5.8 kmReviews
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