Fort Amsterdam

Fort Amsterdam is one of the first structures built in the capital city Willemstad and one of the most beautiful historical sites in Curaçao as well. The fort was constructed in 1634 and has been guarding the Curaçao harbor against marauding pirates and other adversaries ever since. It was the main of the eight forts on the island, and it was built by the Dutch West India Company (DWIC). It also functioned as the Company's headquarters.

The classic white and yellow architecture reflects the adaptation of Dutch architectural forms to the Caribbean climate. Some of the fort's walls indicating a long history of European battles in the Caribbean. This is the most important of the island's six forts, and the huge walls that rise above the water's edge are a sight to behold. There are four bastions on the nine-foot-wide walls. The Fort Church, Curaçao's oldest Protestant church, was built in 1769 and is housed within the golden yellow edifice. Artifacts such as silver chalices and a mahogany baptismal font are on exhibit, along with a collection of congregational documents dating back hundreds of years. Fort Amsterdam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, now serves as the residence of Curaçao's governor and the island's parliament.

Location: Willemstad