Fort Amsterdam, Dutch colonial fort in Hila, Indonesia.
Fort Amsterdam is a Dutch colonial fortification built in the 1600s with sturdy stone and brick construction. The structure rises three stories and features a square layout designed for military defense.
The Dutch East India Company built this fort in 1637 on the site of an earlier Portuguese trading post from the 1500s. It represented a shift in European control over the region and its trade routes.
The botanist Georg Rumphius lived here from 1660 to 1670 and conducted extensive research on local plant life. His observations helped document the flora found across the region.
You can enter through the gate on the eastern wall, with additional open passages on the north and south sides. Comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes are best for exploring the structure and its different levels.
The ground floor contained both a prison and a gunpowder storage area, while the upper floors used wooden structures. This mix of stone and wood shows how builders adapted to the tropical environment.
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