Fort Rotterdam Fort, Silent Witness of the Glory of the Kingdom of Gowa.

The province of South Sulawesi is known for storing many historical places, one of which is Fort Rotterdam. Established around the 13th century or in 1545's, the fort was founded by a king in the Kingdom of Gowa, I Manrigu Daeng Bonto Karaeng Lalikung. At the beginning of its establishment, the fort was only made of earth. But in the 14th century, it began to be renovated with its architectural characteristics which were shaped like a turtle. Animals that live on land and in water symbolize the Kingdom of Gowa which was able to triumph on land as well as in water. Before being known as Fort Rotterdam Fort, the fort was named Ujung Pandang Fort. However, after being attacked by the Dutch, the fort was taken over by colonials and its name was changed.

The name change was in line with the signing of the agreement for the surrender of the fort by the Kingdom of Gowa to the Dutch Government by Cornelis Spleeman. He deliberately named the fort with the name Fort Rotterdam, with the reason to remember his hometown in the Netherlands

Since switching ownership, Fort Rotterdam was used as the center of the Dutch colonial administration. At that time, the fort was used as a place to store various kinds of spices which were then exported to the Netherlands.

The fort was also used as a place to monitor the arrival of enemies from outside, as well as a VOC headquarters. For about 200 years, the fort was the center of the Dutch administration. In 1937, ownership of the fort Fort Rotterdam was transferred to the Fort Rotterdam foundations.

Then, since May 23, 1940, the building has become a historical place. Even now, around the fort complex, Muousiem La Galigo has been built, which contains various relics from the Kingdom of Gowa. (PKL - Yuli Riza)