Fort Victoria

Fort Victoria is a historic coastal fort located in Sirimau District, Ambon City, Maluku Province, Indonesia, overlooking Ambon Bay. Originally built by the Portuguese in 1575 as Kota Laha and rebuilt by the Dutch as Fort Nieuw Victoria in 1775, it is one of the oldest forts in Maluku. Now serving as the headquarters of Kodam XVI/Pattimura, the fort is notable for its colonial architecture, strategic waterfront location, and association with Maluku's spice trade history.

Visitors can expect to view a well-preserved colonial coastal fort from the exterior, with thick stone walls, bastions, and historic cannons facing Ambon Bay. The fort is located in central Ambon in an urban waterfront setting and remains an active military headquarters, so interior access is generally restricted. Visitors can explore the outer perimeter, observe the architecture and gates, take photographs from permitted areas, and learn about its historical role through exterior displays and guided explanations when permission is granted.

Originally constructed by the Portuguese in 1575 as Kota Laha to protect their spice trade interests, the fort was later taken and rebuilt by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and reconstructed in its current form as Fort Nieuw Victoria in 1775. It served as a key Dutch administrative and military center in Maluku during the colonial period and later as a defense installation. After Indonesian independence, it became the headquarters of the Indonesian Army's Kodam XVI/Pattimura.

The fort is a prominent colonial heritage landmark in Ambon and a symbol of the city's long history as a center of the spice trade in Maluku. It is associated with local historical figures including Pattimura (Thomas Matulessy) and is recognized as a cultural heritage structure reflecting Portuguese and Dutch architectural influences in eastern Indonesia.