Fort Beekenburg

Fort Beekenburg was built in 1703 on the point of the Caracas Bay peninsula to cover the entrance to Spanish Water, and it survives as a circular stone tower with the gun platform on top and cannon still in place, unrestored and unstaffed, which means anyone can walk up and climb it. The view takes in the lagoon entrance, the bay and the coast towards Willemstad. It was attacked several times in the eighteenth century and held.

History

Spanish Water was a strategic place, and in 1703 Nicolaas van Beek, then Director of Curaçao, built Fort Beekenburg on Caracas Bay to protect the natural harbour and the back route to Willemstad. It was attacked several times by the French, the English and pirates, but was never taken. The fort later belonged to Royal Dutch Shell, which built an oil terminal in Spanish Water in 1927; the terminal closed in 2005, and since then the fort has been open to the public (Wikipedia, Spaanse Water).

What's there

• The round tower - the 1703 stone structure at the peninsula point.
• The cannon - guns still in place on the platform above.
• The view - the lagoon entrance, the bay and the coast towards town.
• The open access - an unstaffed monument free to walk into and climb.

When to go

Year round; late afternoon is best for light and heat. There are no opening hours. Midday on the bare peninsula is punishing.

Things to know

The fort is unrestored with loose stone and no railings in places. There is no interpretation on site. The peninsula around it is bare and hot.

Nearby

Tugboat Beach is on the same peninsula, and Spanish Water is inland.