Fort Amsterdam
Fort Amsterdam
3.5
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The island's principal fortress today serves as the seat of government.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
176 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
77
Average
58
Poor
9
Terrible
1
David D
Devon, UK26,726 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
This eye-catching colourful old fort is located along the waterfront in Willemstad
It is not easy to overlook with it's brightly painted yellow walls, highlighted features in white and dark green window shutters and canopies. The flag of Curaçao flies high above the building
We first saw the fort as we walked across the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge. On leaving the Bridge turn left for Punda or right to visit here.
Standing in front of the Fort is the World War II Memorial, the Statue of Thanks, with the Sundial nearby. At the entrance is a bust statue of Kolonel Carel N Winkel, founder of the Volunteer Corps.(all 3 are reviewed separately).
Along the outer Fort wall are a number of white marble Memorial plaques commemorating various historic events.
It was built in 1634 by the Dutch West India Company as their headquarters it also served as a military fort.
Today it is the seat of the government and governor of Curaçao with their offices in the Fort's buildings.There is also a museum and a church.
We walked through the entrance archway and we came into a large courtyard which was surrounded by beautiful buildings. We walked around admiring the buildings, it was unclear if the Church and the museum were open for the public to visit, so we did not enter any of the buildings.
It appeared that currently the main function of the courtyard is as a car park for people working in the offices.
It is not easy to overlook with it's brightly painted yellow walls, highlighted features in white and dark green window shutters and canopies. The flag of Curaçao flies high above the building
We first saw the fort as we walked across the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge. On leaving the Bridge turn left for Punda or right to visit here.
Standing in front of the Fort is the World War II Memorial, the Statue of Thanks, with the Sundial nearby. At the entrance is a bust statue of Kolonel Carel N Winkel, founder of the Volunteer Corps.(all 3 are reviewed separately).
Along the outer Fort wall are a number of white marble Memorial plaques commemorating various historic events.
It was built in 1634 by the Dutch West India Company as their headquarters it also served as a military fort.
Today it is the seat of the government and governor of Curaçao with their offices in the Fort's buildings.There is also a museum and a church.
We walked through the entrance archway and we came into a large courtyard which was surrounded by beautiful buildings. We walked around admiring the buildings, it was unclear if the Church and the museum were open for the public to visit, so we did not enter any of the buildings.
It appeared that currently the main function of the courtyard is as a car park for people working in the offices.
Written June 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jaybeeFL
Palm Harbor, FL3,388 contributions
Feb 2022
In 1970, we spent 3 days of our honeymoon in Curacao staying at what used to be the Intercontinental Hotel. It was housed inside the walls of the fort but has been vacated for some time and is slated for demolition per our guide. The structures in and around the fort are now used for government offices. The area remains quite picturesque and is worth a walk through.
Written February 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
azogal
Ann Arbor, MI1,514 contributions
The old church (whose wall still has one of Captain Bligh's canon balls in it) in the fort is worth a visit. The stained glass windows and the organ are beautiful. Look up and note the clock on the ceiling.
Written March 20, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rkatao
Seattle, WA356 contributions
Mar 2020
Visited the fort as part of a cruise excursion. I don't know that you would understand the history and use of the Fort without a local guide.
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Modi
Curaçao46 contributions
Jul 2018
This is another old building on island. We are not allowed to go inside. So, I won't suggest special visit to this place, only if you are around and would like to spend 5-10 minutes.
Written June 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patty_in_Cleveland
Brecksville, OH135 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
The awe we felt standing in the middle of this complex is hard to explain. Pure history. These are the original buildings and how I wish I had the dates in front of me. But 100+ years. Make this part of your walking tour.
Written November 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leamer
Ontario1,445 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Beautiful building with refreshing colour. There is an officer at the front but does not stop you. No charge to walk through the gate. Pictures are allowed. There is a museum near the back but it's not free. There is a charge. Nothing really memorable about the place other than what people are talking about the cannon ball lodged in the wall.
Written February 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George B
Aberdeen, UK1,538 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
Fort Amsterdam is an interesting building for a short visit. It was built around 1630 to protect St Anna Bay. it had 4 Bastions and thick walls. I believe it is on UNESCO list of world heritage sites. The Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1769 and can be visited for a reasonable fee. Could not get a good photo of this.
Just above the entrance on the outside there is a canonball still in the wall.
It is good that the Government utilise this Fort as offices but pity not open as a tourist attraction. Sign of the times.
If you found this review useful please indicate below.
Just above the entrance on the outside there is a canonball still in the wall.
It is good that the Government utilise this Fort as offices but pity not open as a tourist attraction. Sign of the times.
If you found this review useful please indicate below.
Written March 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
badmintontim
Hastings, UK4,534 contributions
This 'Fort' has been changed into administration buildings for the town/city and apart from a cannonball stuck in a wall (with an alleged history) there is not much here at all except a quick photo stop.
Even the centre of the Fort has been changed into a car park!
Curaçao has definitely missed a trick here as reading about the history, this place apparently paid quite a part but all that is lost today - needs some input to put it back on the map for tourists and fur a place for them to visit and 'write home about'
Even the centre of the Fort has been changed into a car park!
Curaçao has definitely missed a trick here as reading about the history, this place apparently paid quite a part but all that is lost today - needs some input to put it back on the map for tourists and fur a place for them to visit and 'write home about'
Written November 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry G
Toronto, Canada5 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
If downtown go see but what an opportunity missed, this place (Curacao) really has no identity, way to westernized
Written February 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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