Fort Batenstein, Dutch colonial fort in Butre, Ghana.
Fort Batenstein is a stone structure perched on a rise above the water, commanding views of the gulf below. The building features thick walls and compact spaces typical of trading posts from this period.
Dutch traders built the fort in 1656 to secure their control over coastal gold trade routes. The settlement later expanded with additional facilities to support growing commercial activities.
The fort served as a meeting point where European merchants and local communities conducted daily business and built relationships. The site shows how two distinct worlds came together at the coast and influenced each other.
Visitors are best served by hiring a guide from the nearby village to navigate the route and explain the site. It is wise to wear sturdy shoes, as the paths are rough and stairs can be steep.
The site hosted a sawmill in the 1700s that supplied timber for ship repairs and construction along the Gold Coast. This workshop reveals how Europeans developed their settlements using local resources.
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