Utilisation of Fort Speelwijk Must Align with Preservation Framework

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Culture Minister Fadli Zon stated that Fort Speelwijk in Serang City, Banten, is a historical structure that is not merely a dead artefact, and its utilisation must align with the concepts of preservation and protection.

“The fort or site must indeed be safeguarded, but we also need to utilise it. So, it’s not just about protecting a dead artefact; we must utilise it with preservation and protection concepts,” said Fadli Zon when met in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He acknowledged that it is unsurprising to find building structures and VOC bullets at Fort Speelwijk, as the fort was destroyed by the Dutch during the colonial era under Herman Willem Daendels around 1808-1811.

To date, he admitted that there has been no comprehensive or in-depth excavation. He hopes to collaborate with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), universities, and other institutions to conduct thorough excavations.

Fadli Zon added that he has communicated with the Governor of Banten regarding the utilisation of cultural heritage sites in the region, which include Keraton Surosowan, Keraton Kaibon, Fort Speelwijk, and the Great Mosque of Banten, to be developed into a living historical tourism ecosystem that can be widely known by the public.

Archaeologists found building structures and VOC bullets at Fort Speelwijk through excavation activities conducted by the Regional VIII Banten Cultural Preservation Agency in Kasemen Subdistrict, Serang City, to uncover the history of colonial-era relics (11/4).

Cultural Custodian at the Banten Cultural Preservation Agency, Adita Nofiandi, in Serang on Saturday (11/4), explained that this year’s excavation is a follow-up project to last year’s findings, with research focusing on the inner eastern side of the fort.

“Our target is to excavate the land according to the specified layout. So far, the clear findings are the foundation structures of former buildings and intact floor structures,” Adita said.