Description of the attraction
The Dutch fort of Kota Belanda is an architectural echo of the era of the Dutch colonization of Malaysia on the island of Pangkor. In the middle of the 17th century, it replaced the Portuguese rule. Among the sultanates, Perak fell into the zone of special interest of the Dutch, namely, its island of Pangkor - the place of tin mining, the main product of Malay export. The Dutch East India Company imposed obligations on the sultanates to sell tin to it at low prices, and impeded independent trade by any means. For this, trading posts and forts were built on the coast of the sultanates.
To control the tin trade in the region and was built in 1670 on the island of Pangkorfort Dinding (named after the river). In Malaysia, the fort is called Kota Belanda. The sultanates fought the Dutch monopoly of trade with varying degrees of success. During this confrontation in 1690, they managed to defeat the fort, but not for long. The Dutch returned with reinforcements, recaptured and rebuilt the fort. The colonialists left it only in the middle of the 18th century. Until 1973, the fort remained abandoned, until the authorities of independent Malaysia declared it a historical monument.
Today, the reconstructed Dutch fort consists of three brick battlements with semicircular loopholes. From these remains, one can well imagine what it was like in the 17th century. The inside of the fort is accessed by a small wooden staircase. It is worth exploring it as a fine example of Dutch stone masonry. And also as the oldest, after the buildings of the Dutch square in Malacca, an architectural monument of this period.
Fort Kota Belanda is located in the village of Teluk Gedung, not far from the ocean, next to it a small garden was laid out, the road from which leads to the jungle. On an island known for its pristine beaches and relaxing family getaways, it is virtually the only historical attraction.
