Fort Zoutman description and photos - Aruba: Oranjestad (Topic)

Fort Zoutman description and photos - Aruba: Oranjestad. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Fort Zoutman.

Photo and description

Fort Zutman is a military fortification in the city of Oranjestad. Built in 1798 by the Dutch army, it is now the oldest structure on the island of Aruba.

The Dutch used Paardenbaai on the island of Aruba as an intermediate harbor between Curacao and Venezuela. Since 1796, the Army Committee of the Island of Curacao under the leadership of Governor J. R. Laufer began to build defensive structures on the islands of Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba in order to have reliable protection from pirates. The fortress in Aruba was named after the Rear Admiral of Holland Johan Arnold Zutman, who fought in the Anglo-Dutch and American wars, but never visited the island in person. The fortress was completed in 1798, at first it was armed with two pairs of cannons.

The reconstruction of the fort began in 1826, at the direction of Commander Simon Plats. The citadel was not used as an army garrison from 1830 to 1834, but was occupied by a colonial police brigade. In this regard, in 1859, cells for keeping criminals were added near the eastern and western walls, closing the embrasures and cannons. The eastern annexes were demolished during another reconstruction in 1936, and 31 of the 35 cannon ports remained within the walls until the restoration work in the fortress in 1974.

In response to the order of the manager Ferguson in 1866, work began on the construction of the lighthouse. on which they planned to install a citywide bell. Upon completion of construction, in 1868, the lighthouse tower was consecrated in the name of the monarch William III. The arches at its base were the western entrance to the fort. The light source in the lighthouse was alternately kerosene, gasoline and acetylene lamps. Electricity was supplied in 1935, and in 1963 the tower was no longer used as a lighthouse.

For many years, the former fort and lighthouse served as a clock tower, meeting room, library, post office, tax office, watchtower and Aruba police station.

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Topic: Fort Zoutman description and photos - Aruba: Oranjestad.