Fort Willem II, Dutch colonial fort in Ungaran, Indonesia
Fort Willem II is a fortification in Ungaran featuring four bastions and thick stone walls that enclose a two-story central building. The structure overlooks both its main entrances and sits along the route connecting Semarang and Surakarta.
The fort was built in 1786 by Dutch colonial authorities to secure trade corridors in Central Java. It became significant when a major Indonesian resistance leader was held there in 1830 before being moved to Java's capital for judgment.
The fort holds connections to Prince Diponegoro, who was imprisoned there in 1830 before his transfer to Batavia for trial.
The site currently functions as residential quarters for Indonesian police and their families, limiting public access for visitors. Plan to view the structure from outside or ask permission if you wish to get closer.
The fort was originally called Fort de Ontmoeting, meaning a meeting place, reflecting its role as a diplomatic encounter point in the 1740s. This name reveals how the site was designed to facilitate negotiations between different powers in Java.
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