Fort De Verwacthing - Attractions in Sula Islands

Fort De Verwacthing is a historic attraction you must visit when you traveling in Sula Islands. This fort is located in Sanana Village, North Sanana Sub-district, Sulabesi Island, Sula Islands regency, North Maluku province. This fort is located right in front of Sanana Harbour in the city center.

Fort De Verwacthing has an area of 2,750 square meters with four bastions and two lookout towers. The high of the fort wall is approximately 4 meters. There are two supporting buildings in the fort that is now used as The Office of Tourism and Culture of Sula Islands. The fort has been renovated and the results can you see in the photos below.

Source: Photo Kekunaan

History

In 1623, Ternate residents were expected to build a small fort known as Het Klaverblad. However, in 1688 there is a historical record of Fort Het Klaverblad which is located in Sulu Islands, precisely in Sanana Island.

Then on December 24, 1736, as the reign of Amir Iskandar Zulkarnain Saifuddin (1714-1751), the small Fort Het Klaverblad was refurbished and later named De Verwachting. Amir Iskandar Zulkarnain Saifuddin - the eldest son of Rotterdam with his fourth wife, Sayira - is the 14th Sultan of Ternate. Amir Iskandar Zulkarnain Saifuddin was born in Ternate in 1680 and better known as "Raja Laut" (King of the Sea), that was given by his father. He is also known by the name "Kaicil Sehe".

The restoration of this fort was under the supervision of an officer of VOC, Victor Moll. This restoration harnessed the people of Ternate, who then sculpted the walls of the fort with decorations characterized Ternate.

The writings on the walls of the fort gates is in Malay language. In the 1790s, the historical record of VOC in the late 18th century called this fort as Fort Alting, according to the name of a VOC trustee who reined between 1780-1797.