Benteng Rotterdam

Greatness Symbol of Gowa Kingdom

If you are visiting Makassar, near Losari Beach there is a fame fortress which known as Benteng Rotterdam. The name was given by the Dutch after succeeding to take over this fortress as the realization of Bongaya agreement.

There are several names for this fortress, like Benteng Ujung Pandang because this fortress built on a cape that has much pandan trees (pandan means pineapple), or Benteng Panynyuwa because its shape looks like a turtle crawling to the sea.

Benteng Rotterdam, which located on Ujung Pandang sub district, Makassar, South Sulawesi, was a symbol of the glorious and greatness of Gowa Kingdom in 16th -17th century. This fortress was built during the rule of King Gowa IX, Daeng Matanre Karaeng Tumapa’risi’ Kallona in 1545, then get over with King Gowa X, Karaeng Tunipalangga Ulaweng.

This fortress was used as an escort fort of Benteng Somba Opu, which was functioned as the center of kingdom, administrative and trade of Gowa. When Benteng Somba Opu was destroyed by the Dutch, those functions were replaced to Benteng Rotterdam.

While Benteng Somba Opu is mostly destroyed, Benteng Rotterdam is still in good condition. We can remind the greatness of Gowa Kingdom through Benteng Rotterdam. While we walk from its gateway, we can see well taken care of the antiquity.

In northern side, near the gateway, the wall has a little damage. When Japan took over power from the Dutch government in 1942-1945, several parts of the fortress was damaged by the war. But, the parts beautify the whole building.

Japan exploited this fortress as office and center of scientific research about agriculture and language. When Japan defeated, this fortress was taken over again by the Dutch. After proclamation of Indonesia’s independence, this fortress was used as the army’s and civil society’s settlement.

Overall, this fortress’s blue print is a square with a gateway at western side which faced with Losari Beach, and a small gate at northern side. Totally, the fortress built on 3 hectares of land, with the height of wall ranging from five to seven meters. This fortress has five bastions, namely Bastion Bone, Bacan, Buton, Mandarsyah and Amboina.

Inside the fortress, there are 14 building. The first building is a church which located on centre of the complex.

The fortress has gothic architectural style, which appropriated with Indonesia’s tropical climate. We can see the gothic style from pillars inside and construction shape that resemble to castle.

The most interesting thing is a cubbyhole in one of the bastion, known as saukang. Saukang is little building with an anonymous cemetery inside. At that time, there was sowing flowers on that burying ground, and a melting candle around. Evidently, saukang has been used as a place for funeral and that tradition goes on until now.

“People often come to saukang to ask for blessing or to make promise of something,” Syahrawi Manna from the Conservation of Antediluvian Inheritance Office said. “Up to now, the activity still takes place. They bring flowers and pray there, even they don’t know whose reside there.”

Nowadays, some of the buildings in Benteng Rotterdam are used for the Conservation of Antediluvian Inheritance Office and La Galigo Museum. The citizens of Makassar often come to Benteng Rotterdam to watch the beauty of sunset view. Beautiful parks which was built in front of the fortress frequently used by the youth as arena for social interaction, especially on Saturday night.

Dimuat di Indonesia Rising, 3 November 2008