Fort Zeelandia

Fort Island, Essequibo River, Guyana

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Fort Zeelandia is a historic Dutch fort located on Fort Island in the Essequibo River, about 16 kilometers from its mouth in Guyana.

Originally built in timber around 1687 by Dutch commander Abraham Beekman to protect the colony of Essequibo, the present brick structure was constructed between 1740 and 1744 with the labor of enslaved Africans and materials sourced partly from abroad. The fort features a lozenge-shaped design similar to forts in West Africa, with thick walls, two stories, and twenty gunports for defense.

It became the capital of the Essequibo colony after replacing the inland Fort Kyk-Over-Al in 1739 and played a key role in defending colonial interests against pirates, rival European powers, and local threats. The site now stands as a National Monument and UNESCO tentative World Heritage site, offering visitors insights into the early colonial history of Guyana alongside views of the Essequibo River and surrounding natural beauty.