Fort Beekenburg

On the Caribbean island of Curaçao in the Dutch Antilles, Fort Beekenburg is located on a rocky outcrop next to the Caracas Bay, east of the city of Willemstad. Fort Beekenburg was built in 1703 on Governor Van Beek's orders to protect the Spaanse Water, the entrance to the bay behind it. The fort's circular tower was entirely constructed out of stones produced in the Netherlands and carried to Curaçao as ballast.

A spherical tower in the shape of a chess piece stands atop the fortress. Rainwater is carried to a reservoir inside the tower via channels on the top of the tower. Consequently, fresh water was always available, even during a siege. On the roof of the tower, there were also cannons. A hexagonal platform with battlements sits at the base of the tower. Cannons were also stationed here to protect the entrance to the Spanish Water. From the ground floor, a stone stairway leads to this platform. At one time, the only way to ascend the tower was to reach a wooden door on top of the tower. This was most likely a ladder that could be retrieved in an emergency. The hexagonal platform can be reached from the tower by descending a flight of stairs into the tower. A short corridor leads to a wooden door that opens onto the platform from there. Three sides of the tower with platforms are walled, and the fourth side is a cliff overlooking the harbor.

Fort Beekenburg, unlike Curaçao's more well-known colonial-era fortresses like Rif Fort and Waterfort, is entirely abandoned. It was inaccessible for many years since it was located on private property owned by an oil corporation. Today, however, it is open to the public at all times and is free of charge.

Location: Caracas Bay