Fort Church, Curaçao
| Fort Church | |
|---|---|
Fortkerk | |
.jpg) | |
  Fort Church | |
| 12°6′16.06″N 68°56′3.98″W / 12.1044611°N 68.9344389°W | |
| Location | Willemstad Curaçao |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Denomination | Protestant Church |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 1766-1769[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 16 metres (52 ft)[2] |
The Fort Church (Dutch: Fortkerk) is a church of the United Protestant Community located in the court of Fort Amsterdam in Willemstad, Curaçao. The church dates from 1796, and is still in use.[3][1] A museum is located in the basement.[4] The Fort Church is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[1]
History[edit]
In 1635, after the conquest of Curaçao by the Dutch West India Company, construction started of Fort Amsterdam.[5] The next year, a wooden Dutch Reformed church was constructed.[4] In 1766, the present church was built to serve the garrison, and was consecrated im 1769.[1]
In 1804, Curaçao was conquered by Great Britain, and a cannonball is located in the outerwall of the church.[2] The church of the Lutheran community, the other protestant denomination, burnt down during the conquest. It was decided that the Reformed and Lutherans would share the Fort Church.[6] In 1824, the Lutheran Church and Dutch Reformed Church merged into the United Protestant Community of Curaçao.[7]
The octagonal church tower was replaced by a round tower in 1903.[2] The church was restored in 1991.[8] In 1995, it was awarded monument status.[1] In 1997, the historical centre of Willemstad including the Fort Church was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[9]
The Fort Church is the most important church of the community, and offers services in Dutch every Sunday morning.[3] The mahogany pulpit and governor's bench date from 1769 and were designed by Pieter de Mey.[2][1]
Fort Church Museum[edit]
A museum is located in the basement of the Fort Church, and contains an overview of the Protestant history of Curaçao.[4] The museum contains the original clockwork of 1766 which was built by Dirk van der Meer, and is considered a masterpiece.[10]
Gallery[edit]
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Fort Church (1940-1945) -
West gallery (1954) -
Pulpit (1954) -
Fort Church (1980-1983)
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References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f "Fort Amsterdam – Fort". Curaçao Monuments. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "De Fortkerk (The Fortchurch) in Fort Amsterdam". The Netherlands Antilles (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Over Ons". VPG Fortkerk (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Protestantse Kerken". Reli Curaçao (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Fort Amsterdam and Governor's Palace". Curaçao Monuments. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Een Eeuwfeest". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 28 March 1925. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Fortkerk Curaçao]". Nederlands dagblad (in Dutch). 5 January 1980. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Fortkerk is weer in oude glorie hersteld". Amigoe (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour, Curaçao". UNESCO. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Fundraising concert uurwerk Fortkerk". Amigoe (in Dutch). 11 May 1992. Retrieved 13 August 2022.