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Fort Willem I, Ambarawa

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A 19th-century lithograph showing the fertile Ambarawa plantation with European

cemetery in the foreground and the extensive square-shaped Fort Willem I in the
background.

Fort Willem I, known in Indonesian/Javanese as Benteng Pendem

Ambarawa ("Ambarawa sunken fort"), is a 19th century Dutch fort in
Ambarawa, Central Java, Indonesia.[1]
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History

In period of Diponegoro War (1827-1830), Colonel Hoorn, Military

Commander in the 2nd division to the crossroads at Bawen (point of
junction of the roads connecting Semarang-Yogyakarta and
Semarang-Salatiga) instructed the construction of logistic storage, as
well several military barracks, to gave immediate supply and forces for
the war. Simple bamboo sheds was established at this strategic
point.[1] After the War, during the reign of Willem II, the place of the
bamboo sheds proved very strategic. So a new modern fort was
constructed at the former bamboo sheds area between 1834-1853. In
1840, Ambarawa grew as one of a strategic military outposts along the
route between Semarang and Surakarta. The VOC had established
several military defense points along this route which connects
Semarang - Ungaran - Salatiga and Surakarta. The purpose of the
establishments of these defense points was to establish relationship
with the Sultanate of Mataram.[1] From 1853 to 1927 KNIL military
barracks were set up in the fort. The private Dutch East Indies Railway
Company (NIS) received concession in 1862 to built a rail track
connecting Semarang, Surakarta, Magelang and Yogyakarta with a
branch toward Fort Willem I.[2] Construction started in 1863 and was
completed in 1873.[2] An earthquake occurring on July 16, 1865
damaged some buildings inside the fort.[1] In 1927, Fort Willem I was
adjusted from penitentiary of children prisoner into a penitentiary for
political prisoner and adult prisoner.[1]

During the period of Japanese occupation, Fort Willem I was

converted into an internment camp.[1] After the Indonesian declaration
of independence, from October 14, 1945 to November 23, 1845, Fort
Willem I was used as the headquarter of the Tentara Keamanan Rakjat
("People's Security Army"), a predecessor of the Indonesian National
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Army. From this year, the prison was used as military barracks with
some parts converted into prison. During the Great Awakening period
between October 14 to December 10, 1945, around 3,500 Dutch
civilians were interned by Indonesian freedom ghters inside the Fort
Willem I; the internment camp used former prisoners and guards for
camp security.[1] In 1950, parts of the fort were converted into adult
penitentiary. In 1985, it was repurposed for juvenile penitentiary
facility; in 1991, penitentiary class IIB; in 2003 until now, penitentiary
class IIA.[1]

The fort

Fort Willem I is situated in the middle of a rice eld. The main building
is a square-shaped fort of 178 x 178 meter. Small storage buildings
were situated around 94 meter away from the fort at each cardinal
points. Unlike earlier 18th-century fort designs, the 19th-century
Willem I Fort were designed for a defense work of military logistic.
Concerning this function, Fort Willem I contains no embrasure nor
bastions. Instead there are many windows in the rampart, and the
bastions are detached from the fort.[1]

References

Notes

1. Mahandis Yoanata 2009.

2. M. Sahari Besari 2008, p. 136.
Bibliography

M. Sahari Besari (2008). Reza Anggara. ed (in Indonesian). Teknologi di

Nusantara: 40 abad hambatan inovasi. Jakarta: Penerbit Salemba
Teknika. ISBN 9789799549259. https://books.google.co.id/books?
id=8ByjqGxHDRkC&pg=PA136&dq=%22willem+I%22+fort+ambarawa&
hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTjvnForXJAhUEPogKHdVIC9gQ6AEIKjAD#
v=onepage&q=%22willem%20I%22%20fort%20ambarawa&f=false. 
Mahandis Yoanata (October 12, 2009). "INSIDE FORT WILLEM I AT
AMBARAWA". Blogspot.
 http://mahandisyoanata.blogspot.co.id/2009/10/inside-fort-willem-i-
MILITARY WIKI
at-ambarawa.html. 
Coordinates: 7°16′15″S 110°24′37″E / 7.270886°S 110.410191°E /
-7.270886; 110.410191

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