Prins van Oranje Fort as a defense strategy in Java

1834

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Caption Bahasa Indonesia

Front view of Fort Prins van Oranje which was built between 1835-1842

Source: Semarang Beeld van een Stad page.14 (Photo by: Tiong Bing)

Rear view of Fort Prins van Oranje which was built between 1835-1842

Source: Semarang Beeld van een Stad page.14 (Photo by: Tiong Bing)

On the instructions of Governor-General Van den Bosch (1830-1849), the Dutch government decided to build Fort Pendem Poncol or Fort Prins van Oranje in Semarang. The location of Fort Prins van Oranje is near the military armoury, armoury workshop, and artillery camp according to the 1909 map entitled Semarang Omstrekken. Fort Prins van Oranje was established as a defence for the movement of Javanese troops in Semarang due to the aftermath of the Java War of 1825-1830. However, Fort Prins van Oranje was deemed ineffective as a defence fortification in the war in Java, especially in Semarang because it was built in a swampy and unstable ground area, causing land subsidence in the following years. After the rapid development of the Dutch East Indies military in the mid-19th century, the concept of the Pendem Fort was deemed irrelevant. Finally, in 1893, the fort was demolished.