Fort Rotterdam, The Turtle Fortress

MAKASSARESE called this building as panyuafortress, it means turtle. The architecture of Fort Rotterdam is unique, resembles a turtle going down to the sea. Althought built in the 16th century, conditions of the fortress is still solid and well. 

Location of Object 
Rotterdam fortress is located on 1st Ujungpandang Road, about 1.5 kilometers western of the centre city of Makassar (Karebosi Field). Position of the fortress is near the beach. 

Overview 
See the Rotterdam fortress, tourists will immediately feel the atmosphere of the past era, the colonial period. Fortress walls is still strong and robustly standing. The walls high are about five meters. Composed of natural black stone. In some parts of the stones, mildews are growing. 

A gate accepted tourist in front of the fortress. Inside the fortress, tourists will immediately feel the colonial nuance. Ancient buildings still firmly standing inside. A large Europe's 16th century two-storey building standing in the middle. The building was function as an office and meeting place. 

Meanwhile, encircle building strecthed. Also with the old European architecture. In the building there are 100 rooms. One of the rooms, which are intended as a prison, was used to confine Prince Diponegoro after his lost in War of Java. In this fortress also Prince Diponegoro died. 

Rotterdam has five bastions in every corner of the wall which was currently named with the name of several areas in South Sulawesi. However, there are some parts of the building formed as debris becouse of terrible war that happened five centuries ago. 

The Government of South Sulawesi Province has made one of the buildings in the fortress as a museum. The museum called La Galigo. Various codex of Bugis-Makassar community stored at the museum. Some codex were formed as micro film script. Some of the scripts are I La Galigo and I Daramatasia epic. 

Access 
Because of the object located in the center of Makassar city, this fortress is accessible. Tourists can use taxi, city transportation, or hotel transport facilities.

Entry Tariff
Managers did not imposed any fare for visitor to enter the fortress.

Short History of Fort Rotterdam 

Rotterdam Fortress originally called Ujungpandang Fortress. Built in 1545 when Gowa Kingdom led by Tumapa'risi Kallona, the nineth king. Or a year before the renovation of Somba Opu Fortress. This fortress was built face toward Makassar Strait. 

The development of Ujungpandang Fortress finished when Gowa led by Tunipalangga Ulaweng, the tenth king. In the same manner as Somba Opu Fortress, Ujungpandang Fortress is originally first built by clay. If Somba Opu function as the centre of kingdom, Ujungpandang fortress function as a military base. 

In 1634, I Mangngarangi Daeng Manrabia or Sultan Alauddin, the 14th king, completed the building with stone wall. A year later, he added a gate in the front side of the fortress. So that the fortress built resemble a turtle. Makassar people called the building as panyua. 

As a maritime country, which directly face toward sea, the King of Gowa aware the importance of defense systems. Ujungpandang Fortress is one of 17 fortresses that built along the coastline of Makassar. Some others, such as The Panakkukang Fortress, Anak Gowa Fortress, and the Barombong Fortress. 

48 years after VOC jail the influence over Sulawesi, Makassar War was uproar between 1655 to 1669. Native resistance to the company that want to monopolize trading lines led by 16th king, I Mallombasi Daeng Mattawang Karaeng Bonto Mangappe or Sultan Hasanuddin. 

Ujungpandang Fortress seized by VOC on Tuesday, November 18, 1667. Gowa troops who are still alive fleed and join at Somba Opu Fortress in the southern of Ujungpandang Fortress. Two years later, Sultan Hasanuddin and his people which survived in the Somba Opu Fortress was lost and sign the Bungaya Agreement. 

After that defeat, 16 fortresses that built along the coastline were destroyed by Dutch army. Including Somba Opu Fortress. VOC leaving only one Fortress, that is Ujungpandang Fortress. Than, it was used as a base of their military defense. Leader of Dutch army, Admiral Cornelis Janszoon Speelman, changed the name of Ujungpandang Fortress to Fort Rotterdam.(*)

Refference: 
www.indonesia.go.id 
www.budaya.sulsel.go.id

Source:enjoy-makassar.blogspot.com