Fort Zeelandia, Dutch colonial fort in Anping District, Taiwan
Fort Zeelandia is a stone and brick fortress complex in Anping District, Taiwan. The site includes an inner keep with three levels and an outer zone once used for residence and trade purposes.
The Dutch East India Company built the fortress between 1624 and 1634 to secure maritime trade routes in the region. In 1662 the garrison surrendered the site after a nine-month siege to the Ming loyalist general Koxinga.
The name refers to the Dutch province of Zeeland and recalls the trading networks of that era. Today the walls and passageways stand open so visitors can walk through the casemates and explore the viewing platforms.
The fortress sits in Anping District and is accessible by public transport or bicycle from Tainan Station. On-site stairs and ramps lead to the different levels, allowing visitors to gain an overview of the grounds.
The building materials for the fortress came partly from Java, where bricks were made and shipped across to Taiwan. Traces of artillery fire from the 1662 siege remain visible on some wall sections.
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