Fort

Concordia, fort (Banda Lonthor)

The first fort in this location was built in 1630 to protect the village of Wayer form pirates. This first fort was a small triangular construction. In 1732 it was replaced by the current fort : a square fort with three corner bastions. Originally it had been planned to construct four corner bastions, but design and construction were so poorly overseen that it was too late when it was descovered that the fourth bastion could not be constructed due to a lack of space. The site for the projected fourth bastion was occupied by the warehouse for nutmeg, which the company’s officials were unwilling to demolish. The fort retained its garrison until the end of the colonial government monopoly on fine spices in 1864. It was auctioned off in 1887 and used as a source for building material afterwards. Still, the fort is relatively intact, only one bastion having been completely demolished.

Images

Sources and literature

anoniem/anonymous, Landmonsterrollen (1691-1790)

Wall, V.I. van de, De Nederlandsche oudheden in de Molukken (1928)