Makassar, IO – Fort Rotterdam was built in 1545 during the Gowa-Tallo Kingdom. It was named Fort Jumpandang or Fort Ujung Pandang. At first, the fort was built with materials such as clay. Then in 1634 during the reign of Sultan Alauddin, the fort was reinforced using rocks sourced from the karst mountains in Maros. The fort was heavily damaged due to VOC attacks led by Cornelis J. Speelman in 1655-69.
Fort Rotterdam was also where Prince Diponegoro was captured in 1833 and imprisoned until his death on January 8, 1855. Since falling into Dutch hands in the 1930s, this fort was converted into a defense command headquarters, trade headquarters, residence of high-ranking officials, and administration center.
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One of the buildings in the fort complex has been repurposed as La Galigo museum of the South Sulawesi provincial administration which displays various historical objects, manuscripts, statues, ceramics and traditional clothing. (IO/Faisal Ramadhan)