# Fort Amsterdam

- **Country:** Ghana
- **Location Text:** Abandze ()

Fort Amsterdam is a historic military installation located in Abandze, within the Mfantseman District of Ghana's Central Region. Originally constructed by the English between 1638 and 1645 under the name Fort Cormantin, the structure served as a pivotal site during the era of European colonial expansion in West Africa. The fort is architecturally significant as a former slave fort, representing the brutal infrastructure developed to support the Atlantic slave trade. Its strategic position on the coast made it a contested asset, leading to a violent change in ownership that defined much of its early history.

The fort holds a unique place in historical records due to its capture in 1665 by Dutch Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. This seizure was a direct retaliation for English Admiral Robert Holmes capturing several Dutch forts the previous year. Following this event, the site became an integral part of the Dutch Gold Coast and remained under Netherlands control until 1868, when it was traded back to the British. During the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War in 1782, the fort was briefly recaptured by British forces led by Captain Thomas Shirley, highlighting its continued military relevance throughout the 18th century.

Today, Fort Amsterdam stands as a solemn testament to the complex and often tragic interactions between European powers and African societies. Recognized for its outstanding universal value regarding colonial influence and the slave trade, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 as part of the collective Forts and Castles of Ghana designation. While specific details regarding its current physical condition or public access hours are not explicitly detailed in available records, its preservation as a protected heritage site ensures its role as an educational landmark for visitors studying the region's profound historical narrative.

![Photo of Fort Amsterdam](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Stad_Amsterdam_in_Nieuw_Nederland_%28City_Amsterdam_in_New_Netherland%29_Castello_Plan_1660.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Amsterdam_(Ghana) (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)