De ingang. Kanonnen zijn gericht op het binnenland
This fort was once a private Portuguese chapel to St.
John the Baptist. It was rebuilt by the Dutch (VOC) in the 18th century
and from that time it was named St. John's fort. The fort has an
interesting feature - the cannons face inland as, during that time,
attacks on Melaka came mainly from the hinterland instead of from the
sea. The Dutch feared inland threats from Acehnese and Bugis invaders
more than they did a maritime invasion.
Another attraction for many is the view from the top of the hill where
St. John's Fort stands, particularly for the fantastic tropical sunsets.
St. John's Fort is a little way out of town. If you head away from town
on Jalan Parameswara, it turns into Jalan Hujung Pasir. Turn left onto
Jalan Bukit Senjuang. The Fort will be on your left.
Kanon kijkt uit over zee.
The Dutch built the fort to protect itself
from attacks from the local population who could not forgive
them for colonising Malacca. However, before it became a fort, a
small Portuguese chapel was built at its present site.
This soon changed in 1628 when opposing
Acehnese forces from Sumatera occupied the hill and used it as a
base to attack the Portuguese who were fortified at the A'Famosa.
Later, the Dutch applied a similar strategy like the Acehnese to
use the hill to attack the Portuguese. When the Portuguese were
defeated, the Dutch built the fort after more than 100 years.
Besides its rich greenery where a small
forested area is still left untouched, one can savour the
beautiful and scenic view after they ascend the hill by driving
up in a car or jogging up to the fort. From the fort one can
have an unobstructed view of the changing skyline of Malacca and
appreciate the progress the State has gone through.
At the top and looking out to the west,
visitors will immediately notice the artificial island
reclamation project — the RM2 billion Pulau Melaka
project — which was previously the small island of Pulau Jawa
St. John's Fort is about 1,8 km from the centre of the
town.
