Fort Orange (Bonaire)

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Fort Orange
Fort Oranje
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Fort-Oranje.jpg
OSM Bonaire 2.png
Red pog.svg
Fort Orange
Caribbean location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Fort Orange
Coordinates 12°08′56″N68°16′36″W / 12.14883°N 68.27674°W / 12.14883; -68.27674
Type Fortification
Area0.308 hectares (0.76 acres) [1]
Site information
Owner Bonaire
Open to
the public		Yes
Site history
Built1639 (original) [2]
1816 (current building) [3]
Materials Stone
Battles/warsNone

Fort Orange (Dutch: Fort Oranje) is a military fortification in Kralendijk, Bonaire. Originally built in 1639 as a nameless [4] fort by the Dutch West India Company, it is the oldest masonry structure on the island of Bonaire. [5] [6] The fort has never been used for its intended purpose. [2] [7] In 1816, it was rebuilt and named Fort Orange. Its current lighthouse, Kralendijk Lighthouse, was built in 1932. [3]

History

Fort Orange was built in 1639 after the island of Bonaire was conquered by the Netherlands. The fort has four metre high walls with four canons. [6] The original fort was open on the land side. In 1800, Bonaire was ignored by the British. In 1804, Bonaire was taken by the British who had landed their troops out of sight, and captured the fort without a fight from the open land side. [4] The canons which are currently in the fort date from the British period. [7]

In 1816, Bonaire was returned to the Netherlands. The fort was reconstructed and named Fort Orange. [3] The fort remained the headquarters of the Commander of Bonaire until 1837. [7] The original wooden lighthouse was replaced by a stone lighthouse in 1932. [3]

During the 20th century, the building has been used for multiple purposes: prison, fire department, police department, museum. [3] Until 2011, it was in use by the Public Prosecution Service. Since 2011, it is used by the harbour authority and the waste management company. [7] The ownership of the fort was transferred from the Dutch Government to the Island Territory of Bonaire in 1974. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Eigendomsrecht over Fort Oranje grond". Amigoe di Curacao via Delpher.nl (in Dutch). 13 June 1974. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Fort Oranje". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fort Oranje". Midden Amerika (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Het fort op de koralendijk". Amigoe via Delpher (in Dutch). 27 June 1987. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Antoin, F.D. Boi; Haviser, Jay B. "Observations Of Vernacular Architectural Diversity Between Curaçao And Bonaire" (PDF). XX International Caribbean Archeology Congress.
  6. 1 2 "Historische gebouwen". Beautiful Bonaire (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Fort Orange". Bon Bini Bonaire. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
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