Amsterdam Fort in Maluku: A Witness to Spice History More Precious Than Gold
If you find yourself in Negeri Hila, Central Malues Regency, Maluku, make sure to visit the Amsterdam Fort to discover another side of the Nusantara spice history. To reach this location, tourists must undertake a land journey of approximately one hour from Ambon City. The roads are relatively small and winding, with the urban atmosphere gradually transitioning into rows of rural houses and roadside fish vendors.
Groups of lecturers frequently visit the site for historical excursions, often gathering under blue tents to enjoy local cultural performances, such as the ‘bambu gila’ dance, in front of the fort. Such crowds are a common sight at the Amsterdam Fort. “We are ready for the community and anyone who wishes to hold events here,” said Damir Lating, a local cultural heritage police officer.
According to Damir, this tourist site frequently hosts institutional events, such as official farewell ceremonies and socialisations. Historically, before European nations arrived in the Maluku Islands, an Islamic kingdom known as the Hitu Kingdom existed, centred in Negeri Hila. The Amsterdam Fort itself has stood since 1512. It was originally constructed by the Portuguese, led by Francisco Serrao, primarily to serve as a warehouse for spices.
Nearly a century later, the Dutch arrived in the Maluku Islands in 1605. The Hitu Kingdom and local residents assisted the Dutch in expelling the Portuguese. This endeavour was successful, and the spice warehouse was subsequently converted into a defensive fortification, which the Dutch named Amsterdam Fort. During that era, the Portuguese implemented a monopoly trading system, forcibly collecting spices in Maluku. All inhabitants were required to sell their produce, specifically nutmeg and cloves, to the Portuguese. “No other nation possessed spice reserves as vast as theirs,” said Damir. According to historical records, the value of spices at the time was incredibly high, even exceeding the price of gold on the global market. One kilogram of nutmeg was worth more than one gram of gold, prompting the Hitu Kingdom to take measures to protect their cloves and nutmeg.