Fort Amsterdam is located in the heart of Willemstad, an administrative center of the Curacao Island. In 1634, the Dutch came here and established a small trading village. To protect the village and the goods, they built Fort Amsterdam in 1635. Its construction was under control of
Admiral Johannes van Walbik. He strictly followed the European technology rules. Dutch soldiers and slaves from Angola were working there.
The fort had a protective function, and after a while, a small settlement of merchants turned into a city. Around the island, people built a lot of houses. An original look of some constructions has been preserved to this day.
After the construction of the fort, all the important administrative buildings were established on its territory. The governor and soldiers defending the fortress also lived here. But in 1804, Rafael Simon Urbina Lopez with 250 soldiers attacked the fort. Rafael Simon Urbina Lopez was a rebel against the dictatorial regime in Venezuela. He was assured that the kidnapping of the Curacao governor could help to overthrow Juan Vicente Gomez Chacon. So, one day, he attacked the fort, guarded by 80 soldiers. The siege was easy. The Dutch army was defeated, and the governor was captured. After that, the Dutch government modernized the fort. They put cannons in the bastions, and Marines ships were watching the port of Willemstad.
Now the fort Amsterdam is open to visitors. The entrance is free. The walls and buildings of the fort remind of the 17th century when soldiers were establishing them. Surprisingly, the thickness of the walls is more than three meters. How hard it was for the slaves and soldiers!
A historical museum of Fort Amsterdam is located in the fort itself. It occupies the building of the former church. The museum, as well as a fort, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The museum shows ancient maps of Curaçao and tells about the history of famous families living on the island. There, you can see rare items such as the Bible, fonts of mahogany and silver, bowls, and other exhibits having the historical value.
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